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?3  ^EST  MAIN  iTREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductiorts  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


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copy  which  may  ba  bibliographicaily  uniqua, 
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raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Gouyerture  de  coulaur 


rn    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/'ou  pelJiculAe 


I — I    Cover  title  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g^ographiquas  oh  coulaur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  qua  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  platea  and/or  illustrations/ 
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mais.  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
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L'Institut  a  microfilm^  la  mailleur  exemplaire 
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de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  axiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normala  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


E! 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pages  oamaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 


I — I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restaurias  et/ou  peiliculAas 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^colories,  tachaties  ou  piqu6es 


r~~\    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  dAtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigaia  da  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  mat6riei  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


rri  Showthrough/ 

rri  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

nn  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Las  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  6ti  film6es  A  nouveau  de  fapon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


SOX 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reprcducad  thanks 
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Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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Original  copies  In  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
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sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
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first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
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or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  Illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film*  f ut  reproduit  grice  A  la  /- 

g6nAroslt«  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publlques  du  Canada 

Les  Images  suivantes  ont  6tA  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 

Les  exemplalres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  film*s  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'lllustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplalres 
originaux  sont  fllmte  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'lllustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  imege  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimte  d  des  taux  de  reduction  dlff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich«,  II  est  film6  d  partir 
de  i'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicesaaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

B  A  R  B  A  R  I  T  I  E  S 


OP  THS 


,;'5is;. 


% 


^m 


E  NE  MY, 


EXPOSED  IN  A 


REPORT 


^f  the  CommiUe«  of  the  House  of  Re^resentativies  of  the 
Ucited  StatS.  appointed  to  enquire  into  the  spirit  and 
manAer  in  which  the  Ifar  has  been  waged  by  the  eamji 


AN0  THE 


DOCUMENTS, 


**ii 


ACCOMPANTlNa  SAID  REFOBf; 


.        '    _  TROY, 

PRINTED  BT 

FRANCIS  ADANC01TRT> 

CONOrlRESS  STREET,  DIRECTLY  NORTH  OP  T|lf  P4JIK:. 


•«••••«•••••• 


1813. 


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Barbarities  of  the  Enemy!   }    ; 

A  cdmmlttee  having  beea  raised  on  tliis  BubjecC  in  the    vA* 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  early  ii»  >^<.; 
the  session  of  May,  1813,  Mr.  Macon,  the  chairman,  at     '   ' 
the  close  of  the  session  made  tlie  following  Report :  ^ 

The  comniittee,  to  whom  was  referred  that  pari      , 
^  the  PresidenVs  Message  "  which  relates 
to  the  spirit  and  manner  in  which  the  war 
has  been  washed  by  the  enemy,**  ^  ^ 

REPORT :    ■ . ...■  -r-v,,  ,:,A:^.-.v-' -  ■  :'-''^- ■: >^^ 

Thut  they  have  cottected  and  arranged  all  *  J 
the  testimony  on  this  subject*  which  could  at  ^ 
this  time  be  procured.    This  testimony  is  •^/^; 
submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  House,  -^'^ 
arrano^d  under  th^fbllowing  heads  :  £  ^ 

First.    Bad  treatment  of  American  pri»-  r-    ,,^ 
oners :     ■    ■  ;;•?*=;;; 

Second.    Detention  of  American  prison-      " 
ers  as  British  subjects,  on  the  plea  of  nativity!  ,^' 
in  the  dominions  of  Britain,  or  of  naturaliz-^  * 
taion  :  ;  5  f 

Third.    Detention  of  mariners  as  prison-,  .■ 
ers  of  war,  who  were  in  jEngland  when  the       ! 
war  was  declared  : 

Fourth.    Compulsory  service  of  impressed 
American  seamen  on  board  British  ships  of     ■< 
war  :      'i-'"^;^-^^^  v-^- :■'■•.  ■ 

Fifth.    Violation  of  flags  of  truce  :        ^^ 

Sixth.    Ransom  of  American   prisoners 
from  Indians  iu  tlie  British  service  :        v   f  *  ^V 


■'■f. 


REPORT. 


Seventh^  Pillage  and  destruction  of  pri-^ 
vate  property  on  the  Chesapeake  bay,  and 
in  the  neighboring  country  :  y  j  /?  ^f* 

Eighth.  Massacre  and  burning  of  Ameri- 
can prisoners  surrendered  to  officers  of  Great 
Britain,  by  Indians  in  the  British  service. 
Abandonment  of  the  remains  of  Americans 
killed  in  battle  or  murdered  after  the  surren- 
der to  the  British.  The  pillage  and  shooting  of 
American  citizens,  and  the  burning  of  theii* 
houses  after  surrender  to  the  British  undqr 
the  guarantee  of  protection  :  i-? 

Punth.  Outrages  at  Hampton,  in  Vii> 
ginia. 


'i'^^'t:^- 


:.:^,:^A, 


The  evidence  under  the  first  bead  demoiv 
strates  that  the  Briti  ih  government  hasadoptr 
cd  a  rigor  of  reguls^tion  unfriendly  to  tne 
comfort  and  apparently  unnecessary  to  th^ 
safe-keeping  of  American*prisoners  gencS-al^ 
ly.  It  shews  also  instances  of  a  departui^ 
from  the  customary  rules  of  war  by  the  s©^ 
lection  and  confinement  in  close  prisons  of 
particular  persons,  and  the  transportation  of 
them  for  undefined  causes  from  the  port«  of 
the  British  colonies  to  the  island  of  Great 
Britain. 

The  evidence  under  the  second  head  estab- 
lishes the  fact,  that  however  the  practice  of 
detaining  American  citizein^  as  British  sub- 
jects may  be  regarded  as  to  the  principle  it 
involves,  that  such  detentions  continue  to  oo- 
«ur,  through  the  agency  of  the  naval  and 
©ther  commanders  of  that  government.  It 
proves,  too,  tiiat  however  unwilling  to  allow 


^'J 


REPORT. 


5 


f  prin 
,  and 

meri- 
Great 
rvice. 
•icans 
irren- 
ngof 
tneii' 
undqr 

emoiv 
adoptr 
to  the 
to  th^ 

arture 
he  s^ 
ions  of 
ion  of 

iTi&  of 

Great 


:.;« 


other  nations  to  naturalize  her  subjects,  Great 
Britain  is  disposed  to  enforce  the  obligation 
entered  into  by  their  citizens  when  naturaliz- 
ed under  her  own  laws.  This  practice,  even 
supposing  the  release  of  every  person  thus 
detained,  obviously  subjects  our  captured 
citizens,  upon  mere  suspicion,  ta  hardships 
and  perils  from  which  they  ought  to  be  ex- 
empt according  to  the  established  rules  in 
relation  to  prisoners  of  war. 

The  evidence  under  the  third  head  shews, 
that  while  all  other  American  citizens  were 
permitted  to  depart  within  a  reasonable  time 
after  the  declaration  of  war,  all  mariners  who 
were  in  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain, 
whether  they  resorted  to  her  ports  in  time  of 
peace  for  lawful  purposes^  or  were  forced  in- 
to them  under  pretence  of  illegal  coriimerce, 
are  considered  prisoners  of  war.  The  injus- 
tice of  this  exception  is  not  more  apparent 
than  the  jealousy  it  discloses  towards  that 
useful  class  of  our  fellow  citizens.  But  the 
committee  cannot  but  remark,  that  if  the 
practice  of  hiring  American  seamen  to  navir 
gate  Britisli  vessels  is  generally  adopted  and 
authorised,  and  that  it  is  suffered  appears 
from  the  advertisement  of  George  Maude, 
the  British  agent  at  Port  Royal,  which  is  to  be 
found  with  the  testimony  collected  under  the 
first  head,  tliat  the  naval  strength  of  that  em- 
pire will  be  increased  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  our  seamen  in  bondage.  The 
present  war  having  changed  the  relation  of  the 
two  countries,  the  pretended  right  of  impress- 


'?£-■.»« 


a 


REPORT. 


ment  can  no  longer  be  exercia^,  but  the  same 
end  may  be  accoinplished  by  the  substitution 
of  this  mode.  Every  seaman  thus  em- 
ployed (the  terms  of  whose  engagement  havQ 
not  been  ascertained)  increases  the  navat 
atrenffth  of  the  enemv,  not  only  by  depriving 
the  Urated  States  of  his  active  services,  but 
by  enabling  Great  firitaia  to  carry  on  and 
even  extend  her  commerce  without  diminish- 
ing the  number  of  sailors  employed  in  her 
ressek  of  war. 

The  testimony  collected  under  the  fourth 
head  proves,  that  it  is  the  ordinary  practice  of 
the  oincers  of  British  armed  vessels  to  force 
impressed  Americans  to  serve  against  their 
country  by  threats,  by  corporal  punishment, 
and'^even  by  tl^  ftar  of  inmiediaie  execution 
r^^n  instructing  comnlentary  upon  the  pro- 
hfemjo^  of  the  government,  of  its  readinessi 
to  release  impressed  American  seamen  found 
on  board  siiips  of  war. 

On  the  evidence  collected  under  tne  fifth 
liead,  ills  only  necessary  to  observe,  that  in 
l^ne  ease,  the  case  of  Br.  M'Keehan,  the  en- 
ormity is  inoneased  by  the  circumstance  of 
the  flag  being^^ivested  of  every  tiling  of  a 
hostile  c^iarafSjer,  having  solely  for  its  object 
the  relief  of  the  wounoed  and  suffering  pris- 
oners who  were  taken  at  the  River  Raisin  on 
the  22d  of  January,  1813.  The  treatoient 
of  Jh,  M'Keehan,  i^ot  by  the  allks  of  Brit- 
ain, but  by  the  officers  of  her  army,  can  only 
be  rationally  accounted  for  by  the  supposir 
t^n,  thai  it  wtts  considered  good  poltby  to 


REPORT.  1 

deter  American  surgeons  from  going  to  tbe 
relief  of  their  countrymen,  as  the  Indian 
suf geons  had  a  more  ^edy  and  effectual 
mode  of  relieving  their  suffeiings. 

The  evidence  respecting  the  ransom  of  A- 
merican  prisoners  from  Indians,  collected  un- 
der the  sixth  head  deserves  attention,  {»incip«l- 
ly  fi  om  the  policy  it  indicates,  and  it  is  con- 
nected with  Indian  cruelties.  Considering  the 
savages  as  an  auxiliary  military  force  in  the 
pay  of  Great  Britain,  the  amount  of  ransom 
may  be  regarded  as  part  of  their  st^idated 
compensation  for  military  services ;  and  as 
ransoms  would  be  increased  and  their  value 
enhanced  by  the  terror  inspired  l^  the  most 
shocking  barbarities,  it  may  be  safely  con* 
eluded,  whatever  may  be  the  intention  of 
the  British  gorernment,  that  the  practice  of 
redeeming  captives  by  pecuniary  means  will 
be  occasionally  quickened  by  the  butchery 
of  our  fellow  citizens,  and  by  indignities  offer- 
ed to  their  remains  ;  as  long  as  the  Indiana 
are  employed  b^  tlie  enemy.  The  justice  of 
this  conclusion  is  confirmed  by  the  testiniony 
c^  those  witnjesses  who  were  retained  after^ 
ransoming  prisonens  of  war.  i> 

The  testimony  coHected  under ^4iie  seventh 
head  shews,  that  the  property  crif  iinaruied 
citizens  has  been  pillaged  by  ibe  officers^Bgd 
crews  of  the  British  vessels  of  war  on  air 
coast,  theh:  houses  burnt,  and  {ibices  of  pub- 
lic worship  mutilated  and  defiled.  It  appears 
that  officers,  animated  by  the  presence  of  ad- 
nodral  Cockburii/ particularly  distinguished 


9  REPORT. 

themselved  in  these  explQits.  Tliis  evidence 
proYes,  that  they  were  governed  by  tlie  com- 
bined motives  of  avarice  and  revenge ;  not 
satisfied  with  bearing  off,  for  their  own  con«^ 
Tenience,tbe  valuable  articles  found,  tlie  oth-« 
ers  which  furnished  no  allurements  to  thekr 
cupidity,  were  wantonly  defaced  and  destroy- 
ed. It  has  been  ailedged,  in  palliation  of 
these  acts  of  wanton  cruelty,  that  a  flag  Bent 
on  shore  by  the  admiral  was  fired  upon  by 
the  American  militia,-:-The  eTidence  proves 
this  not  to  have  been  the  fact, — ^This  pretence 
has  been  resorted  to  only  to  excuse  conduct 
which  no  circumstance  can  justify. 

The  committee  forbear  to  make  any  ob- 
servations upon  the  testimony  collected 
under  the  eighth  head  from  a  perfect  convic-* 
tion  that  no  person  of  this  or  any  other  nation 
can  read  the  simple  narrative  of  the  different 
witnesiiies  of  the  grossest  violation  of  honor, 
justice  and  iiumanity>  without  the  strongest 
emotions  of  indignation  and  horror.  That^ 
these  outrides  were  perpetrated  by  Indians,  is 
neither  psdfiiation  nor  excuse.  Every  civiliz- 
ed nation  is  answerable  for  the  conduct  of  tlie 
allies  under  their  command,  and  whDe  they 
partake  of  the  advantages  of  their  success, 
thev  are  equaUv  partakers  oi  the  odium  of 
then:  criitles. — ^The  British  forces  concerned 
in  the  affair  of  the  22dr  at  the  River  Raisin, 
are  more  deeply  implicated  in  th^  infamy  of 
these  transactions  than  by  this  mode  of  i^a* 
soiling,  iowever  correct.  The  massacre  ©f 
the  23d  January,  after  the  capitulation,  wm 


^ 


REPORT.  9 

peqpetmted  without  any  exertton  on  their 
part  to  preiFent  it ;  indeed,  it  is  apparent, 
froni  all  the  curcttmstances,  that  if  uie  Brit- 
ish ofBcers  did  not  connire  at  their  destruc* 
tion,  they  were  criminally  iild^erent  about 
the  fate  of  tlte  wounded  prisonerB.  But  what 
marks  niore  stron^y  tlie  degradation  of  the 
British  soldiers,  is  the  refusal  of  ibe  last  ofli« 
ces  of  humanity  to  the  bodies  of  the  dead. 
The  {)odie8  of  our  countrymen  ware  exposed 
to  every  indignity  and  became  food  Ibr  orutet 
in  the  sitfht  of  men  who  afiect  a  sacred  re'*- 
gard  to  uie  dictates  of  honor  and  religion^ 
Low  indeed  is  tiie  chariMJler  of  thi^  aonj 
which  is  reduced  to  the  oonfessioii,  that  theur 
savage  aux^ries  will  not  pemut  them  to 
perform  the  rites  c^  sepulture  to  ^e  dain« 
llie  coimmttee  have  not  been  able  to  discor*^ 
er  eyen  the  expressiou  of  thai  detestation 
which  such  conduct  must  inspire  from  the 
military  or  civil  authority  on  the  Caaadiai^ 
frontier,  unl^s  such  detestation  is  to  be  pre* 
eumed  from  the  choice  of  an  fndiaii  trophy 
as  an  ornanient  for  the  I^egislative  Hau  of 
Upper  Canada. 

The  committee  have  considered  it  their 
duty  to  submit  the  evidence  collected  under 
the  ninth  head  of  the  attrociiies  committed  at 
Hampton,  although  these  enoimities  hare 
been  committed  since  their  appointment. 
These  barbarities  may  be  rationally  consid- 
ered as  the  consequence  of  the  example  set 
by  the  officers  of  the  naval  force  (m  our 
t^o^st,    Human  turpitude  is  always  progress 


^,*v 


10 


REPORT. 


sive,  and  soldiers  ai'e  prepared  for  the  per- 
petration of  the  most  dreadful  crimes  by  the 
commission  of  minor  offences  with  impunity^ 
That  troops  who  had  been  instigated  by  the^ 
example  of  their  officers,  to  plunder  the 
property  and  bum  the  house  of  unarmed 
citizens,  should  proceed  to  rape  and  murder, 
need  not  excite  surprize,  however  it  may  in- 
spire horror.    For  every  detestable  violation 
of  humanity  an  excuse  is  fabricated  or  found. 
The  wounded  prisoners  on  the  northern  fron- 
tier were   massacreed  by  the  Indians ;  the 
sick  murdered  and  the  women  violated  at 
Hampton  by  foreign  troops  in  the  pay  of 
Great  Britain.    These  pretexts,  admitting 
them  to  be  true,  are  as  disgraceful  as  the 
conduct  which  made  a  resort  to  them  neces^ 
sary.    Honor  and  magnanimity  not  only  ibr- 
Iwd  the  soldier  to  perpeti-ate  crimes,  but  re- 
quire exertion  on  his  part  to  prevent  them. 
If,  in  defiance  of  discipline,  acts  of  violence 
are  committed  upon  ony  individual  entitled 
to  protection,  the  exemplary  punii^hment  of 
the  offender  can  alone  vindicate  the  reputa-r 
tion  of  the  nation  by  whom  he  is  employed. 
Whether  such  exertions  were  ma<Je  by  the 
British  soldiers,  or  the  character  of  the  Brit-^ 
ish  nation  thus  vindicated,  the  evidence  will 
fihetv. 

The  shrieks  of  innocent  victims  of  infernal 
lust  at  Hampton  were  heard  by  the  Ameri- 
can prisoners,  but  were  too  weak  to  reach  the 
ears  or  disturb  the  repose  of  the  British  offi^ 
cers,  Whose  duty,  asiiien  rc?^  Ved  them  to 


HEPORT. 


11 


protect  every  female  whom  the  fortune  of 
war  had  thrown  into  their  power.    The  com- 
mittee will  not  dwell  on  this  hateful  subject. 
Human  language  affords  no  terms  strong 
enough  to  express  the  emotions  which  the  ei^- 
amination  of  the  evidence  has  awakened ; 
they  rejoice  that  these  acts  have  appeared  so 
incredible  to  the  American  people.    And  for 
the  honor  of  human  nature  tliey  deeply  re- 
gret that  the  evidence  so  clearly  establishes 
their  truth.    In  the  correspondence  between 
the  commanders  of  the  American  and  British 
forces  will  be  found  what  is  equivalent  to  an 
admission  of  the   facts  by  the  British  com- 
mander.   The  committee  have  yet  to  learn 
that  the  punishment  of  the  officers  has  fol- 
lowed the   conviction  of  their  guilt.    The 
power  of  retaliation  being  vested  by  law  in 
the  executive  magistrate,  no  measure  is  con- 
sidered necessary  to  be  proposed,  but  the  re- 
solution annexed  to  this  report. 

As  such  enormities,  instead  of  inspiring 
terror  as  wal^robably  intended,  are  in  the 
opinion  of  the  committee,  calculated  to  pro- 
duce a  contrary  effect,  they  submit  for  the 
consideration  of  the  House  the  following  re* 
solution  : 

Resolvedy  That  the  President  of  the  Jnit- 
ed  States  be  requested  to  have  collected  and 
presented  to  this  house,  during  the  continu- 
ance of  the  present  war,  evidence  of  every 
departure  by  the  enemy  from  the  ordinary 
modes  of  conducting  war  ainong  civilized 
^aticpn.  - 


•"'^fmmrim'immmmm 


M 


m 


DOCUMENT  No.  1 


SAD   TREATMENT  OF  AMERICAN   PRISON- 
ERS  BY  THE  BRITISH, 

Washingtany  May  2Hh,  1813. 

SIR,  I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  22d  instant, 
and  hasten  to  reply  to  thft  questions  therein,  respecting 
the  cHse  of  captaip  Jeduthun  Upton,  late  commander  of 
the  privateer  brig  Hunter,  of  Salem.  Captain  Upton, 
Avas  taken  in  the  month,  I  believe  of  November  last,  off 
the  western  Islands,  by  the  British  frigate  Phoebe,  cap' 
tain  Hilliard.  In  chase,  captain  Upton,  as  is  usual  ia> 
such  cases,  threw  his  guns  overboard  to  ease  his  vessel, 
in  hopes  by  that  means  to  facilitate  his  escape  from  the 
enemy :  but  this  not  availip»,  he  was,  as  above  stated, 
taken  and  carried  into  Plymouth,  in  England,  where,  on 
his  arrival,  he  was  immediately,  with  his  first  iieutetian1«. 
Mr.  Wayne,  put  into  Mill  prison  and  refused  his  parole 
on  the  plea  that  he  had  not  on  board,  when  captured, 
fourteen  mounted  carriage  guns  above  the  calibre  of  four 
pounders.  After  having  been  thus  closely  confined  for 
three  or  four  months  in  a  filthy  jail,  they  were  in  the 
month  of  March  taken  out  and  sent  on,  board  the  prison 
4Niip  at  Chatham,  where,  when  I  left  England  in  April 
last,  they  still  were,  in  a  worte  situation,  if  possible^  than 
in  Mill  prison.  The  allowance,  sir,  to  American  prison* 
ers  in  England,  you  are  acquainted  with  ;  it  is,  therefore, 
not  necessary  for  me  to  mention  it  here.  It  is  but  jus- 
tice to  state,  that  the  captain  of  the  Phcebe  petitioned  the 
transport  board  and  ueed  every  exertion  in  his  power  td 
obtain  the  paroles  of  captain  Upton  and  Mr.  Wayne,  biit 
all  would  not  do;  they  were  deaf  to  his  petition,  lost  as 
they  are  to  every  sentiment  of  honor,  and  every  principle 
of  humanity. 

*  B 


;  H 


m 


m 


i 


r'. 


-4 


Sr 


.Z' 


14 


BARBARITIES  OF 


Except  captain  Upton  an.l  his  first  lieutenwt,  all  the 
rest  of  his  oiticers  and  crew  were  sent  on  board  the  pri- 
son ship  on  their  first  arrival  at  Flynimi(h  ;  amongst  thetn 
■was  the  doctor  of  the  Hunter,  Mr.  Carter^  who  came 
home  in  the  cartel  RoUdsoii  Potter.  What  I  have  stated 
respecting  the  treatment  of  captain  Upton  and  Mr. 
Wayne,  I  know  to  be  facts,  as  I  had  the  honor  of  spend- 
ing 24  hours  in  Mill  prison  with  them,  and  heard  those 
facts  related  by  themselves. 

Very  respectfully,  »fec. 

ALEXANDER  CO FFIN,  JudFc 
J.  Mason,  Esq. 

Commissary  General  of  Prisoners. 

Navy  Yard,  Charlestonm^ 
^  June  3(1,  1813. 

SIR,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  you  a -deposition  res- 
pecting inhuman  treatment,  Avhich  Mr.  Nichol?,  late  com- 
mander of  the  private  armed  ship  Decatur,  belonging  to 
JS"e\vburyport,  has  received  from  Ihe  British  government 
at  Barbadoes.  I  have  been  credibly  informed  that  capt. 
jVichols  is  a  veiy  rerpectable  and  corxect  man,  therefore 
a  f'lir  presumption,  that  he  has  not  committed  himself  in 
«uch  a  manner  as  ought  to  deprive  him  of  the  established 
rights  of  a  prisoner  of  war.  Any  measure  which  the 
governmcut  of  our  country  may  see  proper  to  adopt  in 
consequence  of  this  communication,  I  shall  readily  attend 
to. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &:c.       "> 

Wm.  BAmSRIDGEi 
Hon.  Wm.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  * 

JNavy,  City  of  Washington. 

■  ''ii 

I,  James  Foot,  of  Newburyport,  in  the  county  of  Essex* 
,  and  commonwcalih  of  Mai-sac husetts,  mariner,  testify  and 
depose,  that  I  was  a  prize-master  on  board  the  private 
armed  brigantine  Decatur,  of  Ne<»vburyport,  in  her  last 
cruite,  William  Nichols  commander:  That  on  the  18th 
day  of  January,  new  last  past,  the  said  brigantine  was 
captured,  by  his  Britannic  Majesty's  frigate  Surprise,  com- 
manded by  captain  Cochran,    and  carried  iulo  Bar- 


THE  "NEMY. 


15 


biidoes.  Aftet  our  arrival  at  Baibadoes,  captain 
Nichols,  -with  the  other  officers  of  the  Decatur,  were 
paroled.  About  two  months  aftev  our  arrival,  his  Britau- 
uic  Majesty's  frigate  Vesta  arrived  in  Barbadoes,  and 
through  the  influence  of  the  comtnaDdcj:  of  the  Vesta, 
capt.  Nichols,  without  any  known  or  pretended  cause,  was 
arrested  and  held  in  close  confinement,  without  liberty  to 
speak  to  any  of  his  officers  or  any  other  American.  The 
place  where  captain  Nichols  was  confined  was  about  four 
feet  in  width  and  about  seven  feet  in  length,  on  board  a 
prison  ship,  where  he  remained  for  thirty-four  days,  as 
nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  and  was  then  taken  on  board 
his  Majesty's  ship  Tribune  and  carried  to  England. — — 
What  the  cause  of  the  unwarrantable  and  unjustifiable 
conduct  of  the  enemy  towards  capt.  Nichols  was^  I  am 
unable  to  state  :  there  were  several  reports  in  circulation ; 
on?  was  that  he- was  to  be  carried  to  England,  and  held 
a  prisoner  until  the  release  of  certain  men  in  France,  from 
whom  capt  Nichols  recaptured  his  vessel,  whitli  had  beeu 
taken  by  the  Biitish  before  the  commencement  of  the  pre- 
sent war  between  the  two  countries :  another  report  was, 
that  he  was  to  be  held  until  the  close  of  ^le  war  on  ac- 
count of  his  having  been  active  against  the  enemy  since 
the  commencement-  of  hostilities,  and  having  been  fortu- 
nate in  a  former  cruize'.  JAMES  FOOT. 

Commonmealth  (^  MassachuactiSt     ->    ': 
Essex,  ss. 

On  this  thirty-first  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1813,  personally  appeared  James  Foot,  the  sub- 
scriber to  the  foregoing  deposition  and  made  solemn  oath 
that  the  same  is  true.        Before  me 

JACOB  GERRISH,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Commissary  General  of  pri- 
sonerSi  to  Alexander  Stewart,  Esq.  United  Slates*  agent 
for  prisonerx^  at  Jatnaica,  dated. 

May  Ist,  1813. 

"  I  enclose  you  a  copy  of  an  advertisement,  said  to  have 

been  taken  from  a  Jamaica   newspaper,   apparently  put 

forth  by  the  Britirh  agent  for  prisoners,  proposing  to  hire 

out  American  prisoners :  you  will  enquire  into  this  roat<^' 


;.  :1 


'i  Bl.-'C 


."■i  ■■ 


"*:'.' 


■  i 


Xfl 


BARBARITIES  OP 


■  ■'^:,i.- 


i. 


■  >i  '! 


ter,  and  if  it  be,  as  has  been  staged,  you  will  remonstraOg 
stropgly  against  such  a  practice  and  iaibrni  me  of  the  pra€^ 
lice  aud  tlie  result." 

[Referred  to  in  the  preceding  extract.] 

Port  Royal,  2Sth  November,  1813. 
Masters  of  veesfls  about  to  proceed  to  England  witlt 
convoy,  are  informed  that  they  may  be  supplied  with  ft 
limited  number  of  American  seamen  (prisoners  of  war)  t^ 
assist  in  navigating  their  veas^U)  on  the  usual  terms,  by 
applying  to 

GEORGE  MAUDE,  flg-orf. 

Bxtreyd  from  a  memorial  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of 
State  by  James  Orm,  Joseph  B*  Cooky  Thomas  liufn- 
phries  and  others,  masters  of  American  vessels,  who 
were  prisoners  of  war  in  England,  and  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  the  cartel  skip  Robinson-Potter. 
♦'  We  shall  now  proceed  to  give  as  correct  a  statement 
as  we  can  of  the  treatment  of  our  countrymen  (prisoners 
of  war)  by  the  British  in  England.  On  the  arrival  at 
Plymouth  of  the  masters,  first  mates,  supercargoes  und 
passengers,  they  are  sent  to  Mill  prison  for  one  day  and 
night ;  they  have  an  iron  bedstead  to  sleep  on,  with  a 
small  matrass  which  might  easily  be  put  into  a  country- 
man's wallet»^nd  a  small  coarse  blanket.  The  allowance 
for  twenty-four  hours  is  three  small  salt  herrings  or  about 
the  same  weight  of  salted  cod  fish,  or  half  a  pound  of 
beef,  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  black  bread,  a  little  salt, 
&c.  The  second  day  tiiey  are  parolled  and  sent  to  Ash- 
burton,  twenty-four  miles  from  rlj  month  ;  they  must  pay 
their  own  expenses  to  get  liiere.  While  they  are  there* 
(hey  are  allowed  Is  3(1.  per  diem,  or  Qs  Od.  sterling  per 
week,  Beef  is  lOi  per  pound,  bread  in  proportion,  and 
every  other  necessary  equally  dear.  7  he  mates,  who 
have  nothing  but  their  pay  to  live  upon,  join  together  8 
or  1 0  in  a  mess,  hire,  a  room  and  do  their  own  cooking, 
washing,  &c.  and  in  this  way  make  out  to  keep  from 
starving.  Masters,  supercargoes  and  passengers  general- 
ly have  other  resources,  through  their  correspondents  io 
England,  and  make  out  to  live,  by  great  economy,  at  froin 
30  to  35*.  sterling  per  week ;  the  second  mates'  9nd  oth* 


'■J..    '^J: 


m 


r'fs 


^  THE  ENEMY* 


17 


er  officers  are  sent  on  board  the  diflfereat  piison  ships. — 
On  boar''  some  of  tliem  they  are  treated  by  the  command- 
ing oflicer  a£  well  as  the  nature  of  the  situation  >vill  ad- 
roit; oil  board  of  some  others  they  are  very  badly  treat- 
ed. This,  it  will  naturajly  occur  to  you,  sir,  is  owing  to 
the  dilTercnt  commanders.  Their  allowance  is  10  l-2lb. 
brown  bread,  2  l-2lb.  beef,  2lb.  bad  fish,  21b.  potatoes,  and 
10  ounces  barley  per  week  for  each  man,  and  five 
ounces  of  salt  per  week  for  ten  men.  The  prison 
ghips  are  kept  very  filthy,  and  the  prisoners  are  confined 
bilow  at  four  P.  M.  and  are  kept  in  that  situation  until  7 
or  8  A.  M.  At  Portsmouth  particularly,  they  are  very 
sickly,  and  we  are  informed  die  very  fast,  some  days  from 
8  to  1 0 ;  in  fact,  ihey  are  very  sickly  on  board  all  of 
them  ;  several  of  this  description  came  home  with  us  in 
the  Robirj'son-Potter  cartel,  and  b^d,  when  they  came  on 
board,  the  appearance  of  having  made  their  escape  from  h 
churchyard.  It  is  not,  perhaps,  amiss  that  we  should 
state  what  we  firmly  believe;  that  is,  it  is  the  policy  of 
the  British  government  to  select  the  sickly  to  be  first  sent 
in  cartels,  and  keep  the  hale  and  hardy  seamen  until  they 
become  sickly,  thus  rendering  the  whole  of  tliose  gallant 
sous  of  JNTeptune  who  escape  death,  when  they  return  to 
their  homes,  at  least  for  some  time,  perfectly  useless  to 
themselves  and  quite  so  to  their  country,  from,  their  debili- 
tated state }  and,  in  fact,  the  probability  is,*hat  many  of 
thf  m  will  carry  to  their  graves  the  indelible  stamp  upon 
their  constitutions  of  the  treatment  which  they  received  on 
board  Britit^h  prison  ships  ;  for  that  nation  seems  to 
have  lost  its  boasted  humanity,  ami  if  we  did  not  find  the 
word  in  their  vocabulary  we  should  suppose  jj^  had  never 
(oimA  a  place  there.  Many  of  the  seamen,  prisoners  on 
bo Hj\l  those  prison-ships,  are  impressed  Americans  who 
have  given  tliemselves  up,  refusing  to  fight  against  their 
country.  Four  hundred  on  board  the  fleet  in  the  Medit- 
erranean, a  short  tiine  before  we  left  England,  surrender- 
ed themselves  and  were  sent  to  Gibraltar  &  England  ; — 
several  of  them  were  most  severely  flogged  for  refiising  to 
do  their  duty,  were  put  in  ivons,  and  most  of  them  to  their 
immortal  credit,  submitted  to  the  severest  punishment  in 
pr.efereoce  to  assist  the  enemies  of  ^leir  country.    Some 


m 


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18 


BARBxVRITIES  OF 


5      > 


«f  US,  whose  signatures  are  annexed,  were  witoesses  fbthe 
cruel  fact.  A  tablet  of  gold  is  not  rich  enough  to  inscribe 
the  names  of  such  men  upon,  and  when  a  country  can  boast 
of  such  seamen,  she  has  nothing  to  fear  from  the  enemy  ou 
the  ocean  on  an  equal  footing.  Captain  Judathan  Upton, 
late  master  of  the  private  armed  brig  Hunter,  of  Salem 
of  1 4  guns,  because  he  thi  '  them  overboard  in  chase, 
was  not  allowed  his  parole,  tut  kept  in  close  confinement 
for  along  time  in  Mill  prii^oD,  and  lately  has  been  sent  on 
board  a  prison-ship  at  Chatham.  We  mention  these  facts 
in  hopes  that  government  will  retaliate  exactly  in  the  same 
way.  Capt,  Samuel  Turner,  late  master  of  the  Purse 
schooner,  of  New- York,  was  taken  on  his  passage  to- 
France  in  October,  1811,  prior  to  the  war,  and  in  re-tak- 
ing his  vessel,  the  prize  master,  a  British  Midshipman,  was 
killed  ;  he  arrived  safely  in  France,  and  on  his  return  to 
America  was  again  taken,  in  June,  1812,  and  sent  to  Eng-^ 
land,  when  being  recognized,  he  was  immediately  arrest- 
ed and  sent  on  board  the  Sr.  Salvador,  admiral  Calder's 
flag  shiii,  at  Plymouth,  where  he  remained  a  close  pri' 
soney  until  about  January  or  February  last,  when  he  was 
sent  on  board  the  prison-ship  at  Chatham,  where  we  fear 
he  will  remain  until  death  relieves  him  :  he  has  been  veiy 
ill  treated,  niueli  abused,  put  in  irons,  and  afterwards 
threatened  to^be  hanged.  These  fa«ts,  some  of  us  who 
sign  this,  were  witness  to.  We  pray,  in  the  name  of  jus- 
tice, tliai  government  will  take  without  delay,  the  case  of 
captain  Turner  into  their  serious  consideration  f  it  is  a 
ea&e  which  we  think  demands  it,  and  the  only  way  to  pre- 
vent that  nation  from  committing  further  outrages  so  de- 
grading to  human  nature.  We  find  in  Roman  histdry, 
that  an  injury  or  an  insult  oflfered  to  a  Roman  citizen  by 
a  foreign  power  was  considered  as  an  insult  offered  to  the 
whole  Komaji  nation,  and  hope  this  will  also  be  the  Amer- 
ican creed,  because  we  believe  it  will  be  the  surest  way 
of  putting  a  stop  to  those  indignities  which  Americans^ 
have  so  often  been  obliijed  to  suffer..  W^e  are,  however, 
no  advocates  for  cruelty,  but  on  the  contrary,  for  lenity;: 
-yet  we  will  still  believe,  that  in  certain  cases  retaliation, 
is  not  only  necessary  but  becomes  a  duty  (o  prevent  fjn:-*- 
ther  cruelties  on  the  part  of  an  enemy." 


.",'jV(/r::i'p\:^;.,***.' 


'v'ii-'-':'^.::    r,  <i'- •■'»^:'  ■'»•*■ 


c-i^-?,. 


in:!-! 


THE  ENEMY. 


t0 


Nassau,  November  21^  \B12. 
Dbar  Brother — I  embrace  this,  the  earliest  opportu- 
nity of  commuQicating  to  you,  thitt  on  the  9lh  instant, 
lifteen  days  out,  we  fell  in  with  and  captured  the  fine  cop- 
per bottomed  ship  Venus,  vessel  and  cargo  worth  at  least 
25,000  dollars.— 'On  the  12th  pursuing  our  course  and 
witliin  five  days  run  of  your  place,  we  were  captured 
by  bis  majesty*s  sloop  Moselle,  George  Moubray,  com- 
mander,  and  brought  into  this  place. — We  remained  on 
board  the  sloop  two  or  three  days,  and  on  the  19th  were 
transferred  from  thence  to  the  prison  ship  where  v^e  are 
now  imprisoned,  with  an  allowance  of  6  oz.  of  bread,  S 
gills  of  rice,  8  02.  of  the  Morst  of  beef,  including  bone, 
which  is  as  much  as  meat,  with  as  much  brackish  Abater  as 
we  can  use ;  guarded  day  and  night  by  10  or  15  savage 
Africans,  who  are  total  strangers  to  humanity,  and  confin- 
ed every  evening  at  sun  down  not  to  be  released  until 
next  morning  sunrise,  abufcd  to  the  lowest  degrecby  the 
guard,  and  compelled  to  find  salt  for  and  cook  our  own 
victuals  with  green  mangoes.  ISToae  of  us  are  ever  per- 
mitted, under  any  conditions  whatever,  to  visit  the  shores, 
with  many  other  barbarous  acts,  which  are  too  numerous 
to  describe.  This  will  be  conveyed  by  the  cartel  sloop, 
captain  Cooper,  being  the  secoml  cartel  which  ha&  sailed 
since  our  arrival  here.  A  schconer  from  Baltimore  was  only 
allowed  8  men,  and  Cooper  who  brougiit  *C4  prisoners,  is 
only  allov/ed  18  in  retunm,  while  we,  18  in  number,  are 
detaibed  in  this  miserable  place  $  for  wMch  we  cannot  as- 
sign any  reason,  except  to  punish  us  as  privateeremen,  or 
as  hostages  for  those  12  lately  detained  in  Charleston ;  ihis 
last  is  the  general  belief,  and  as  such,  I  deem  a  ccmmuni- 
cation  of  the  circumstance  essential  to  commodore  Dent, 
commander  of  the  southern  station,  that  he  may  look  to  it 
and  enquire  the  cause  why  Americans  are  to  be  detained 
here  two  or  three  months,  while  more  prisoners  have  been 
received  here,  by  a  great  many,  than  what  have  been  sent* 
to  the  United  States*  Men  who  have  arrivtd  here  since 
we,  have  been  sent  off  ;  they  proceed  with  no  degree  of 
regularity  in  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  act  in  opeu 
contradiction  to  every  thing  right,  and  I  really  believe, 
ijiat  except  you  make  knovtO  the  circumstance  and  use 


m 


i 


m 


m 


iflj. 


"■^•«»Nlflf.l?W  ■  f^fP^"^^ 


2tf 


BARBARITIES  OF 


•U," 


fome  favorable  exertions,  that  some  of  us  will  be  intentioa' 
ally  detained  until  the  end  of  our  present  content  with 
Great  Britain.  Aa  I  wisii  your  exertions  for  our  ex» 
change,  I  have  subjoined  a  list  of  those  who  are  thus  mifl- 
erably  treated,  that  we  may  be  demanded  in  a  proper  way. 
The  Rapid's  crew  have  been  imprisoned  here  near  three 
months,  and  have  now  no  prospect  of  getting  away,  while 
the  crews  of  itto  other  privateers  have  been  released. 

Crew  of  the  Lovely  Lass.  -■ 

Lieut.  Autine  Lambert,        John  Gamache, 


John  Hynes, 
Darius  Swain^ 
John  M'Kenzie, 


Wm.  L.  Robeson, 

Wra.  Thomas, 

John  Crandel, 

David  Ashton,  i 

Rapid's  Crew, 

Captain  Lameson,  James  T.  Miller, 

Peter  La  Vella,  Francis  Martin, 

r  i     George  Alexander,  Gaugion  BigulowSr 

Other  Prisoners, 

ShnonWest,  Mathew  Bridge. 

I  wrote  Mr.  Peck  and  requested  him  to  forward  me  i 
letter  of  introduction  to  some  one  here,  and  also  a  protec* 
tion  shewing  that  I  am  au  American;  As  it  is  possible 
that  he  may  not  get  my  letter,  you  will  notice  my  request 
and  pay  that  attention  which  it  deserves.  I  mentioned  iif 
my  letter  to  Mr.  Peck,  that  any  funds  which  I  received 
here  would  be  returned  on  application,  as  my  expendi- 
tures will,  through  an  ecooonucal  principle,  be  aa  small  as 
possible.  I  indulge  the  hope  that  you  will  conform  ta 
my  wishes  in  this  particular,  and  also  inform  Mr.  Kelly 
of  our  imprisonment  here,  and  request  his  influence  iii 
facilitating  our  exchange,  with  any  other  service. 

We  have  no  chance  of  gaining  infoi'matieu  here.     Ev- 
ery person  uses  every  exertion  to  keep  us  in  ignorance  / 
however,  we  are  enable<j  to  say,  that  the  English  priKon- 
■  crs  have  generally  combined  in  speaking  of  the  treatment 
U»ey  received  in  the  United  States,      /.-;  •;  v"    ^    . 

I  am  your  affectionate  brother, 

Wm.  L.  ROBESOisf^ 

f!apt,  Thomas  J.  Rf^e^on, 


^^ 


■a*M«|ISS»*"«,«^, 


.»MupiiiiWl.^i.  j0fr4»r^ 


.^—V..,*!.'^" 


ir^*^- 


.-t     »*v 


$.1''^ 


THE  ENEMY. 


2} 


t  :| 


*  ■' 


1^.  B.  Tlie  Moselle,  Rliodian  and  VariaWe,  three  men 
of  war,  have  just  convoyed  5  or  6  vcgyt-la  over  the  bar  bound 
(o  Home  part  of  England,  it  h  supposed  they  will  return  to 
cruize  oil'  Charleston.  In  case  you  addresfl  or  send  any 
thing  for  nre  at  tliis  place,  you  Mill  direct  to  the  care  of 
Meijsrs.  Bain,  Dnnshe,  &^  Co.  nierchautB  here. 

I  am  your3,  &c.  W.  L.  R.  ^"^  ' 

Hartford,  Mny  0,  \S}:i. 
Sir — Annexed  ia  captain  Samuel  Chew*8  deposition  tak- 

,  en  before  judge  El  wards,  at  New-Haven.  We  expected 
it  in  season  to  have  forwarded  it  by  Mr.  Dodd,but  receiv- 
ed it  last  evening  by  Mr.  Huntington,  the  United  Statea 
attorney  for  Coqaecticut  district,  and  now  forward  it  to 
you  per  mail. 

Yours  respectfully,  ■^ 

LUTHER  SAVAGE,  &  Co. 
How.  James  Monroe. 
Connecticut  District,  ss. 

On  this. day,  the  7th  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  personally  came  before  me, 
Pierpont  Edwards,  judge  of  the  district  court  of  the  Unit- 
ed  States,  for  the  district  aforesaid,  Samuel  Chew,  of  the 
city  of  New-Haven,  in  the  said  district,  and  being  duly 
sworn,  deposeth,  that  he  was  at  Bridgetown  in  the  island 
of  Barbodoes,  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  month  of  Febru- ' 
ary  now  last  past ;  that  on  board  a  British  prison  ship,  at 
Barbadoes,  there  were  confined  about  523  American  pris- 
oners of  the  crews  of  private  armed  vessels  of  the  United 
States  and  merchantmen,  captured  since  tlie  war.  At  the 
time  the  deponent  was  at  Barbadoes  the  American  prison- 
ers were  supplied  wiih  bread,  and  soYne  meat ;  as  to  vege- 
tables, the  deponent  was  not  informed.  The  regulations 
on  board  the  sai^l  prison  ship  compellpd  the  prisoners  to 

'go  below  decks,  where  they  were  confined  at  evening  and 
until  morning  ;  as  many  as  could,  were  suspended  in  ham- 
mocks, and  still  there  was  not  sufficient  room  below  them 
for  all  to  lie  down.  In  this  respect  the  situation  of  the 
prisoners  was  not  only  extremely  uncomfortable,  but  haz^ 
ardous,  and  more  especially,  should  there  be,  as  was  ap- 
preheoikd,  a  scarcity  of  provisions,  during  the  approac|b 


i 


w 


j\ 


'-4 
I] 


'•.;?■-. 


v*\  :■< 


82 


BARBARITIES  OF 


ing  hot  months.  The  deponent  was  not  permitted  to  ^  oq 
board  said  prison  ship,  but  derived  his  informntion  from 
masters  of  vessels,  prisoners  at  said  island,  wlio  were  al- 
lowed occasiopally  to  go  en  l)oard  said  prison  ship,  with 
whom  the  deponent  is  personally  arquainte<l,  and  in  whose 
representations  he  has  the  most  perfect  confindence,  and 
entertains  no  doubt  of  the  facts  by  them  stated ;  and  this 
statement  is  given  at  the  request  of  the  friends  of  some  of 
the  prisoners  at  Barbadoe?,  particularly  of  the  crew  of 
the  privateer  Blockade,  of  Hartford. 

PIERPONT  EDWARDS, 

District  Judge  of  Connecticut  district* 
I,  PiERPONT  Edwards,  judge  of  the  district  court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Connecticut  district,  do  hereby 
certify  and  make  known  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
captain  Samuel  Chew,  the  within  nan>ed  deponent,  is  a 
gentleman  to  me  well  known,  having  known  him  for  many 
years  ;  he  is  the  son  of  captain  Samuel  Chew,  late  ot  the 
city  of  New-Haven,  deceased,  and  who  fell  by  a  cannon 
ball  on  board  an  American  vessel,  during  the  revolutiona- 
ry war :  that  the  said  deponent  is  a  man  of  strict  integrity, 
and  attached  to  the  constitution  and  goremment  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  and  the  most  perfect  confKJence  is  due  to  \n%. 
6aid  representations  so  as  aforesaid  sworn  to. 

PIERPONT  EDWARDS, 

District  judge  of  Connecticut  districtt    .".^ 


■».;. 


MILLVILLE  PRISON, 

"        .  August,  30,  1812.    4::l- 

Sir — We,  the  subscribers,  for  ourselves  and  our  coun-f 
trymen  now  confined  as  prisoners  of  war  in  Millville  pris- 
on, Halifax,  Nova-Scotia,  beg  leave  to  represent  to  tha 
American  government — That  most  of  us  have  for 
years  past,  made  commerce  our  sole  employment  and 
hope,  in  which,  for  seven  years  or  more,  we  have  often 
been  wantonly  robbed  by  the  English  of  what  we  had  ac- 
quired by  industry  and  danger,  and  while  they  stripl  us  of 
our  property,  they  often  treated  us  with  the  greatest  in- 
dignity and  even  barbarity.        ^ 

We  have  seen  and  known  that  they  have  often  violated 
tiie  sacred  privilege  of  individual  liberty  aod  the  law  of  ,^ 


■<'r 


THE  EJ^EMY. 


td 


uattons ;  Wc  arc  ron^cioua  of  the  long  forbearance  of 
our  govcrnmrnt,  ami  their  repented  culls  upon  tlie  honor 
antl  jiiHtice  of  (lie  Biithh  iiRtion,  which,  insU  ad  of  rc- 
drcFs,  added  other  injuries  ;  and  when  the  hope  of  am- 
icable remuneration  had  failed,  and  for  retaliation  our 
government  was  forced  to  the  last  resort,  an  appeal  to 
arms,  we  felt  tlie  justness  of  our  cause  and  iioped  for  llie 
blessings  of  heaven  for  success.  To  serve  our  country 
and  malce  up  the  losses  which  we  had  sustained,  we,  iiii« 
der  commifgiona  from  the  president  of  the  United  States,  . 
entered  on  board  of  private  armed  vessels,  and  have  un* 
fortunately  been  captured  by  the  Blntifch.  We  Avould 
state,  that  in  many  instances  after  we  had  struck  our  coU 
ours,  we  were  fired  upon  by  cannon  and  muskets,  board- 
sides  and  volleys,  and  some  of  our  men  killed,  and  after 
our  captors  had  come  on  board  some  of  us  have  been 
struck  and  severely  wounded  with  cutlasses,  without  the 
least  provocation  for  such  inhumanity.  Our  American 
protections  have  been  forced  from  us  and  destroyed,  and 
some  native  American  citizens  have  been  taken  out  of  our 
privateers  and  put  on  board  British  ships,  and  there  oblig- 
v(\  to  serve.  Most  of  us  have  been  robbed  of  every 
thing,  even  of  necessary  clothing.  When  we  M'ere  going 
from  the  ships  to  prison  the  officers  would  not  permit  us  to 
lake  our  clothing  and  baggage  with  us,  but  pledged  them- 
selves that  they  should  be  sent- to  prison  ;  but  disregard- 
ing their  honor,  we  have  lost  all.  Soiye  of  us  have  been 
inarched  thirty,  and  some  sixty,  and  some  one  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  over  a  miserable  country,  forced  along  be- 
>  yond  our  strength,  half  starved  and  some  in  irons.  Our 
allowance,  each  man  per  day,  one  and  a  half  pounds  of 
bread,  half  pound  poor  beef,  well  proportioned  with  bone, 
one  gill  of  peas,  one  third  oz.  of  salt.  We  are  without 
wearing  apparel  and  without  money,  or  any  means  of 
procuring  them.  A  cold  winter  in  this  wretched  country 
fast  approaches,  and  in  our  destitute  situation  we  must  en- 
dure every  thing,  and  many  of  us  must  perish.  There 
are  now  of  us  in  prison  upwards  of  twelve  hundred.  Eve- 
ry art  has  been  practised  by  the  English  officers  to  excite 
disalFection  in  our  men  to  the  American  government,  and 
t6  iaduce  them  to  eater  iuto  the  English  eeryiice*    JS^eces- 


M 


:i1'. 


■'-/ 


'^1 


H. 


ii*...5- -•;■:>■ 


24 


BARBARI  TIES  Ql^ 


fiity  may  oblige  some  to  desert  us  and  enter  into  British 
servitude  but  we  trust  that  tpeedy  relief  from  our  gov- 
ernment will  save  tiiem  from  that  wretched  alternative  of 
perishing  with  want  or  joining  our  enemies.  For  our- 
selves and  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  we  must  say,  we  have 
no  fortune  to  devote  to  the  service  of  our  country,  but  we 
have  hearts  which  yet  feel  warmly  the  general  impulse, 
and  which  we  pledge,  if  opportunity  ever  again  presents, 
to  devote  in  the  ir*ercst  and  service  of  our  country,  We 
are  now  suflferers,  but  will  cheerfully  suffer  every  hard- 
ship of  war  rather  than  sue  for  dishonorable  peace. 

We  respectfully,  request  an  exchange  or  some  provisi- 
on for  relief.     We  feel  the  fullest  confidence  in  our  gov- 
ernment, and  that  we  need  only  to  apprize  them  of  our 
situation  to  infure  their  assistance  and  protection.    7      • 
,...,    Yours,  A:c. 

Joseph  Starr,  Boston, 
Frederick  Johnson,  New-York,     ?/ 
'     .]  Robert  M*Kearney,  New-York^    ' 
r  -^  ,     Uichard  Rhea,  New-Jersey, 

George  Batterman,   Boston,    ,  ^  :. 
.Tohn  HazeUon,  Boston, 
William  Dyer,  Boston, 
Solomon  Norton,  Boston, 
James  Ti  ask,  Boston, 
Alexander  B.  Latham,  N.  London^ 
Darius  Denison,  New- York,  ' 
Easi wick  Pray,  Portsmouth,       - 
William  Temold,  Portsmouth,     ' 
„  Fobes  Dala  Portland, 

Charles  Thompson,  jun.  N.  York* 

lion.  James  Monroe,  Secretary  of  State. 


AS 


No.  II.  •  ■  ■•^--- 

DETENTION  OF  AMERICAN  PRISONERS 
BRITISH  SUBJECTS. 
Office  if  Commissarif  General  of  Prisoncfs^ 
Washington^  June  \Qy  \^\2. 
Sir — I  have  th6  honor  to  transmit  the  copy  of  a  letter 


T-**"  ■■ 


THE  ENEIV^.  i    ,, 


frow  captain  Stewart,  commauding  the  United  States  na- 
val forces  at  Norfolk,  dated  the  20tli  of  May,  to  admiral 
Warren,  and  that  of  a  letter  from  rear  admiral  Cockburn, ' 
dated  2l8t  of  May,  in  reply,  relative  t(y  a  most  unjustifia- 
ble act  dT  commodore  Berresford,  as  to  part  of  the  offi-  ■ 
cers  anocrew  of  the  late  United  States  brig  Vixen  at  ihe 
mouth  of  the  Delaware.  Leaving  the  general  questioo  ' 
of  the  interference  of  commodore  Beresford  with  tliese 
-prisoners  of  war  returning  on  parole,  and  the  ejtaction 
made  by  him  in  consequence  of  the  irregular  power  thiiB. 
asnimed,  on  the  ground  on  which  captain  Stewr«rt  has 
very  properly  placed  it,  I  will  remark,  that  captain  Stew 
art  was  certainly  misapprehended  by  admiral  Cockburn- 
in  attributing  to  him  the  intention  of  conveying  a  threat, 
as  to  the  finsd  detention  of  two  of  the  American  prisoners, 
on  the  contrary,  the  expression  used  by  captain  Stewar; 
communicates  in  very  plain  terms  the  decision  of  thit 
government  then  already  made  ;  that  four  of  his  Britaos 
Lie  majesty's  subjects  should  be  immediately  selected  ancV 
held  in  durance,  subject  to  the  same  treatment  in  all  re- 
spects, &c/^^:;>v^^;;.^^--^;--,>T  V-r  •,  .^^'••,Mi>'  ^.v,  ;.     •■ 

And  I  hate  now  to  inform  yoU,  sir,  that  in  virtue  of  this 
decision,  and  by  an  order  from  this  office,  the  marshal  of  T 
Massachusetts  has  designated  and  placed  in  close  confine- 
ment William  Kitto,  carpenter,  and  Thomas  Bcddingfielc', 
boatswain,  of  the  late  British  packet  Swallow  ;  and  John 
Squirrell  and  Jas.  Ilussell,  seamen  of  the  Dragon,  74,  ' 
subjects  of  his  Bnttaniiic  majesty,  to  be  held  responsi- 
ble for  the  safety  of  J  ohn  Stevens,  carpenter,  and  Thom- 
as King,  seaman,  part  of  the  crew  of  the  United  States 
brig  Vixen.  *  • 

I  flatter  myself,  sir,  that  this  subject  will  command  your 
early  attention,  jmd  that  you  will  cause  the  officers 
and  feamen  cf  the  Vii:en  to  be  immediately  released  and 
veturned  to  this  country,  according  to  their  destination 
when  t»ken  from  the  cartel. 

Very  respectfully,  &c.  " 

-      (Signed)  J.MASON. 

Coi.  Thomas  Barclay,  &c.  &c;     .  - 


m 


■  I'  .    I 


Hi! 


'  I 


*>x>.^^^ 


■  -,     ■ .  ''    ■ 


N';*-  *e!.  >    , 


■■>'\   ■    ■;■ 


.  r<.„ 


,)-.  ;^;».j';' 


.Ir  y 


•>-  ■  - 


H.  M.  S,  Porctiers,  May^  ^,  UlSI* 
Sir — I  fllm  sony  I  am  under  the  neceBsity  of  detainiD^ 
J.  Stevens  and  T.  King,  late  of  the  Vixen,  in  conse^ 
^uence  of  iheir  being  British  subjects.      I  atn,  sir,  &Ci. 

J.  P.  BERESFORD...^ 
f     To  Lieiit<  Draytou^ 

The  original  is  in  the  possession  of  the  commissar;^ 
general  of  prisoners.  ^  W.  JOKES. 


:% 


Navy  Department,  May  17,  1813. 

Sir— You  are  hereby  authorised  tnd  instructed  to  ad- 
dress a  letter  to  admiral  sir  JohnBorlase  Warren,  represent* 
iug  the  following  facts  and  determination,  vi:^.— -That  a  part 
of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  late  tJj  States  brig  Vixen 
"urere  returning  from  Jamaica  on  parole^  as  prisoners  of 
war,  and  entering  the  Delaware,  when  commodore  Beres- 
ford  caused  them  ii  be  brought  on  board  the  Poictier.s 
and  detained  until  a  part  of  the  crfew  of  that  ship,  whoiri 
f]e  demahdee  in  exchange,  were  sent  down  jrom  Phila- 
delphia ;  that  ultimately,  he  detained  John  Stephens,  car- 
penter, and  Thomas  King,seatnan,two  of  the  aforesaid  crew 
of  the  Vixen,  on  the  plea  of  their  being  British  subjects, 
as  appears  by  a  letter  from  coir.Tnodore  Beresford  to 
lieut.  Drayton,  late  Ist  of  the  bi  g  Vixen  \  and  that  yoa 
are  commanded  explicitly  to  declare,  that  in  retaliation  for 
the  violent  and  unji^st  detention  of  the  said  John  Stephens 
and  Thomas  King,  the  goveriment  of  the  United  States 
will  ilnmediately  cause  four  British  subjects  to  be  select- 
ed and  held  in  duress,  subject  to  the  same  treatment  in  all 
respects  that  the  said  John  Stevens  and  Thoma3  Kingmal" 
receive  during  their  detention. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  admiral's  answer,  you  will  com- 
municate the  same  to  me  without  dfelay.  ■^^ 

-  H  am,  respectfully,  &C.  ,     .        .^ 

.,....; -v^':-""^'  w. JONES. 

Charles  Stcwarty  Esq. 

Commanding  naval  cfficer,  Norfolky  (Va,) 

■        :       ;  *        United  States^  frigate  Constellation, 

Of  Norfolk,  May  20, 1 8 1 3. 
Sm-*ihaVe  the  hotjor  lo  represent  to  yolir  excelleacy 


..t 


■■^-' 


*  .■,. 


-    V 


THE  ENEMY. 


27 


tijiat  a  part  of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  late  IJnited 
States'  prig  Vb^en,  returoiDg  from  Jamaica  on  parole  as 
prisoners  of  war,  were,  on  entering  the  Delaware,  taken 
out  of  the  flag  of  truce  by  commodore  Beresford,  com- 
mandii^  on  that  station,  and  detained  until  a  part  of  the 
crew  of  the  Poictiers,  then  prisoners  '^.t  Philadelphia,  were 
demanded  by  him  and  sent  down  in  exchange  ;  that  ultif 
matelj  he  detained  on  board  the  Poictiers,  John  Stephens, 
carpenter,  and  Thomas  King,  ^araan,  late  of  the  United 
States'  brig  Vixen,  on  plea  of  their  being  subjects  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty. 

This  violation  of  the  rights  of  prisoners  on  parole,  is  so 
contrary  to  the-  usage  of  all  civilized  nations,  that  I  trust 
jour  excellency  wUl  give  such  instructions  upon  that 
head  as  will  prevent  a  similar  violation  in  future. 

I  have  it  in  command  from  my  government  to  state  to 
your  excellency,  that  in  retaliation  for  so  violent  and  un- 
just a  procedure  on  the  part  of  commodore  Berresford  in 
detaining  the  above  Mr.  John  Stephens  and  Thomas  King, 
that  four  subjects  of  his  Britannic  majesty  will  be  imme- 
diately.  selected  and  held  in  durance,  subject  to  the  same 
treatment  in  all  respects,  which  may  be  shown  towards  the 
aforesaid  two  persons  during  their  detention.  I  liopo 
your  exceH'ency  will  give  this  subject  your  earliest  atten- 
tion and  direct  the  release  of  Mr.  Stephens  and  Thomas 
|Cing/  who  have  been  so  improperly  detained  on  board 
the  Poictiers. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.  -      ' 

(Signed)  CHARLES  STEWART, 

Commanding  officer  of  the  United  States^  naval 

forces  at  Norfolk. 


f;.4 


'  */■ :"  f 


To  his  excellency  the  right  honorable  sir  John  B.  War-- 
-^    ren,  admiral  of  the  blue,  and  commander  in  chief  of 
his  Britannic  majesty's  naval  forces  on  the  American 
■'       station. 

His  Britannic  majesty's  ship  Marlboroughf 

In  Lynhaven  Bay,  2\st  May,  1813. 

Sir — In  the  absence  of  Sir  John  B,  Warren,  I  have 

t*je  honor  to  acknowledge  tUe  receipt  of  your  letter  under 

fiate  qf  the  20th  current,  complaining  of  the  conduct  of 


.'     n 


m 

.'1 

i 

i 


'       vi 


.«..  '     r.*j>k4t'.¥.     .1*^.,.  .lf....^,*  iVw.r-M»Mr.v^^'«.Kj.n3il^^  M.*>-;«tA*^I^% 


A^  ■•  ■■  •  ■ 


28   '.\  'j  ■.',.' .(■■ 


•  m,. :. 

Y'' 

'''^\:  '' 

■■,'■■■■      '     '  .  .'■-. 

■  i.  ' . 

BARBARITIES  OF 


commodore  Beresford,  towards  some  AmericaD  prisooer^ 
of  war  returuing  to  Philadelphia  on  parole,  and  of  hig 
having  detained  on  boaxd  the  Poictiers  Mr.  John  Stephens 
and  Thomas  King. 

Ko  report  of  these  circumstances  have  yet  reached  sir 
John  Warren  or  myself  from  commodore  Beresford,  bujt 
I  have  no  hesitation  in  assuring  you,  sir,  tiiat  every  en- 
quiry would  have  been  made  into  them,  and  every  satis- 
faetion  and  explanation  tliereon,  which  the  case  might  have 
required,  would  have  been  offered  to  your  government 
and  yourself  with  the  least  possible  delay,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  threat  with  which  your  representation  on  this  sub- 
ject is  accompanied,  the  tenor  of  which  being  likely  to 
produce  an  entire  change  in  the  aspect  of  our  communi- 
cations, and  particularly  in  what  relates  to  the  individual^ 
which  the  fate  of  war  has  placed  within  the  power  of 
our  respective  nations;  it  totally  precludes  the  possibility 
of  my  now  entering  further  into  the  subject  than  to  assure 
you,  your  letter  shall  be  transmitted  to  the  right  honora- 
ble the  commander  in  chief  by  the  earliest  opportunity, 
and  whenever  his  answer  arrives  it  shall  be  forwarded  tQ 
you  without  delay, 
T  :    I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Sir,  with  high  consideration,  "        #??^^i  > 

„ . ,  Your  most  obedi«*nt  humble  servant,  ^v 

'^  G.  COCKBURN,  Rear  Adnarat 

Captain  Stewart^  comtnanding  the  naval  forces 
V  of  the  17.  JtateSf  at  Norfolk. 


'■■-  f 


i*.<:#is 


V.I     .  - 


Sharki  Port  Royal,  (Jamaica) 
March  29,  1813. 
Smi — Captain  Moubray,  of  his  majesty's  sloop  Moselle^ 
has  just  sent  to  me  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  you  to  him, 
and  another  to  Mr.  Cook,  of  his  majesty's  late  sloop 
Riiodian,  dated  the  25th  ult.  respecting  six  men,'^  men- 
tioned in  the  margin,  who  were  sent  here  from  the  Ba'i''- 
:«as,  as  having  been  taken  in  the  American  privateer  Sa- 
rah Ann,  and  supposed  to  be  subjects  of  his  majesty  ;  but 

*  Edward  Dick,  Thomas  Rogers,  Adam  Taylor ^  John 
Gaul,  Mike  Pluck,  Gorge  G.  Roberts, 


•■^r< 


f . 


)■/;.. 


-     .   h'-l* 


THE  ENEMY. 


29 


as  no  proof  to  vhat  country  the}/ belong  has  been  adVluc-' 
c(1,  it  has  never  been  my  intention  to  bring  them  to  trial, 
and  they  are  at  present  on  board  of  the  prison  ships  wait-* 
ing  an  exchange  of  prisoners. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  bumble  servant, 
(Signed)      CHARLES  STIRLING,  Vice  Admiral. 
Charles  R.  Simpson,  Esq.  ^^  vv     ..^ 


•s-,«-r' 


'\^'a,'t'Wt!>>4 


'jKl-  }  .y. 


Harlem,  June  1,  1813. 

Sir  -I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  a  commuoicatiofi 
which  took  place  some  time  in  the  autdmn  or  winter  pre- 
ceding, between  Mr.  Baker,  his  majesty's  late  agent  for 
prisoners  of  war,  and  Mr.  Monroe,  secretary  of  state^  res< 
pectiog  six  of  the  crew  of  the  late  American  privateer 
Sarah  Ann,  Richard  Moor,  master,  captured  by  his  ma- 
jesty's sloop  Rhodian,  John  Geo.  Ross,  Esq.  commander,^ 
whose  names^  are  inserted  in  the  margin,  and  who  it  ap- > 
pears  were  sent  to  Jamaica,to  which  station  the  Rhodian  be- 
tongedf  on  suspicion  of  their  being  subjects  of  his  majes- 
ty :  And  I  further  request  your  attention  to  a  letter  from 
maj.  gen.  Pinckney  to  the  secretary  at  war«  dated  head 
quarters,  Charleston,  4th  of  November,  1812,  from  which 
it  appears  that  twelve  of  his  majesty's  subjects,  then  pris- 
oners of  war  at  Charleston,  were  held  in  prison  to  an- 
swer in  their  persons  for  the  fate  of  the  six  men,  of  the  Sa- 
rah Ann  privateer,  sent  to  Jamaica. 

I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  you  the  copy  of  a  let- 
ter from  vice  admiral  Stirling,  commanding  his  majesty's 
ships  of  war  on  the  Jamaica  station,  to  Mr.  Simpson,  late 
sub-agent  for  prisoners  of  war  at  Charleston,:  from  which 
you  will  perceive,  that  the  six  men  of  the  Sarah  Ann  are 
considered  by  the  admiral  as  American  prisoners  gener- 
ally, and  are  now  on  board  a  prisonship,  in  common  with 
other  American  prisoners. 

Having  given  ydu  this  information  with  respect  to  the 
six  men  of  the  Sarah  Ann  privateer  I  have  to  request  you 
will  take  the  necessary  measures  to  have  the  contingent 
responsibility  which  it  was  thought  propeAo  attach  to  the 

*  Edrvard  Dicky  Thomas  Rogers,  Adam  Taylor  .  John 
Qaulf  Mike  Phick,  George  G.  Roberts:,   v       .  ,.,*.      v 

c3 


■fi 


'%\ 


i 


w      'S 


J  '  ;| 


.V  ■. 


'^r<t 


'^■■.■.. 


•  I'"  -f.     ' 

00 


BARBARITIES  OF 


perabns  ^twelve  British  seamen,  now  id  prison  in  Chariei^ 
ton,  taken  off,  and  that  tl^ey  may  be  inforoieu  thereof. 

I  understand  that  John  Gaul,  one  of  the  tix  men,  was 
paroled  and  arrived  at  Georgetown,  South  Carolina,  in  the 
brig  Cyprus,  and  that  he  has  reported  himself  to  the  mar- 
shal, who  infiurmed  Mr.  Simpson  "  that  he  iiad  sent  on  to 
.  the  department  of  state  his  parole.*' 
^  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

^^*    (Signed  THOMAS  BARCLAY. 

Genercd  Mason.     -^ 


'.t^'\W>~^'- 


-f^' 


•-^' 


^.^iifr .;-  (^fUe  »f  commissary  gemrai  of  prisoners,- 

Washington,  June  9,  Jfil3. 

'  Sir?— I  learn  with  pleasure  by  the  letter  you  did  me 
the  honor  to  address  me  on  the  Ist  inst.  and  the  letter  from 
admiral  Stirling  you  have  enclosed,  that  the  six  men  be- 
longing to  the  American  privateer  Sarah  Ann,  detained  in 
October  last  and  sent  to  Jamaica  to  be  tried  as  Britisb 
subjects,  have  been  restored  to  the  ordinary  state  of  pris- 
oners of  war  to  wait  ai»  exchange  ^  and  that  there  is  now 
fio  intention  to  bring  them  to  trial. 

I  very  cheerfully  comply  with  your  request,  sir,  andi 
liave  this  day  directed  the  marshal  of  South  Carolina  to 
I'estore  in  tike  manner  to  the  ordinary  state  of  prisoners 
of  war,  the  12  British  seamen  confined  under  the  orders 
of  this  government  by  him,  and  to  inform  them,  that  the 
responsibiHty  attached  to  their  persons  for  the  safety  jdC 
(he  mfn  of  the  Sarah  Ann  Jias'  been  taken  oft, 

■  '^-^  •''^'■:?^s:^     Very  respectfully,  &ci£^*^'c*^''-^*^'*:  ^'^^  • "/ 


(Signed) 
oL  Thorn 


;*A,*K 


CoL  Thomas  Barclay, 


J.  MASON, 


^-  4<mm^^y:4^^^;,^^j^^:u.cm^^   ChiUicotke,  June  d,  1813. 
Sir — I  feel  it  my  duty  to  lay  before  you  the  case  bf 
William  McDowell  Scott,  late  of  Detroit,  ao  unfortunate 
fellow-citizen,  who  has  been  seized  and  apprehended  bj 
51  the  British  commanding  officer  at  Detroit  and  sent  to 
f^uebec,  wher#he  is  now  confined  under  pretence  of  be- 
ing a  British  subject,  and  one  found  in  arms  in  behalf  of 
^le  United  States  against  that  gorvemment. 
WUUam  M'Do  weU  Scott^  is  aaative  of  If ektn^  mn^ 


'-■'  ■\-7 


THE  EWEMy.?f 


8r 


eaiigrated  to  the  Uoited  States  about  eighteea  years  since. ' 
He  resided  for  some  /ears  in  the  state  of  New- York,  aod 
in  the  Bummer  of  1800,  he  came  to  Detroit,  established 
himself  as  ,a  physician,  and  has  ever  since  resided  there. 
He  has  been  naturalized  agreeably  to  the  ilaws  aI"  the  IT- 
nited  States,  and  this  fact  is  well  known  to  the  British  got« 
erument ;  and  both  in  the  territory  of  Indiana,  befove  that, 
territory  was  divided,  and  subsecj^ently  in  the  territory 
of  Michigan,  he  has  held  and  filled,  with  respeot  and  fi- 
delity, some  of  the  first  offices  in  those  two  territories. 

Such,  for  example,  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  aod  a  judge 
of  the  common  pleas  in  the  Indiana  territory  {  and  subf 
sequently  marshal  of  the  tarritory  of  Michigan. 

In  all  these  oii&ces,  sir,  and  in  every  other  situation  in 
which  doctor  Scott*s  puUic  aod  political  character  b^a.' 
been  or  can  be  viewed,  he  has  unifiarmly  waoiilested  i^* 
undeviaUng  attachment  to  the  principles  of  our  con8titUi# 
tion,  and  the  administration  of  thia  goveiaunent. 

His  support  in  the  present  cause,  during  the  time  that 
General  Hull  lay  at  Sandwich  and  Detroit,  was  not  out- 
done by  any  person  whatever.  In  fact,  it  was  his  unwea- 
ried exertions  rhat  have  provoked  and  spirited  up  the 
British  to  that  line  of  conduct  and  persecution  they  are 
sow  pursuing  towards  him. 

Proctor,  who  seat  him  from  Detroit,  and  Sir  George 
Provost,  who  received  him  at  Fort  George  and  forwarded 
bim  to  QMebec,  threatened  to  treat  him  wkh  all  the  sever- 
ities authorised  by  the  laws  of  nations,  aod  the  usages  of 
war,  in  cases  of  an  actual  bona  fide  Britbh  lukject  found 
inarms  against  that  aovernment.  ^  t^-:    ;^.y,<c:     '^'-^^^ 

I  do  not  for  myselihowever  entetridln  a  1be1ic# that  they 
will  dare  to  put  their  threats  in  execution  to  tlteir  full  ex- 
tent.— But,  sir,  with(mt  the  interference  of  the  governmeBt 
they  will  detain  him  during  the  war,  and  they  will  make 
his  life  so  wretched  and  miserable  that  death  would  be  it 
welcome  messenger. 

I  hope,  sir,  the  occasion  will  be  a  sufficient  appology 
for  obtruding  this  communication  upon  you.  I  am  amoi^ 
the  number  of  those  who  have  not  the  honor  of  a  per- 
ponal  acquaintance  with  you.  But  ger.sfal  Taylor,  who 
I  lo^  to  «s  the  bearer  of  it,  is  a  gentleman  to  whom  I 


,1* '' 

;|^';  ! 

1 

k 

<':! 


U  m 


.1   ■■M 


I  - 


!}; 


m 


'"  .,    -./    ;.v:> 


T  V. 


BARBARITIES  OF 


am  personally  known,  and  who  has  likewise  a  pretty  cor« 
vedL  knowledge  of  the  character  of  doctor  Scott.  4:s'^  '^JfT 

^     I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

>  E.  BRUSH. 

-The  Hon,  James  Monroe^  Esq,    .  si 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  John  Mitchell^  Esq.  agent  for 
«^  American  prisoners  of  mar  at  Halifax^  to  the  Secretanf 
of  State,  dated 

«*  May  28th,  1813.  " 
,.; «  I  ijaye  j^gt  been  informed  by  the  agent  for  prisoners, 
that  Mr.  John  Light,  of  the  Julian  Smith,  a  privateer 
commanded  by  captain  Henry  Cooper,  will  be  defined 
here  in  consequence  of  his  having,  previous  to  the  war, 
taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  this  province,  (Nova  Sco- 
tijpi)  and  commanded  a  vessel  out  of  this  place  (Halifax) 
Mr.  Light  was  lieutenant  of  the  privateer  when  captured 
by  the  Nymph,  the  l?th  May,  1813." 


•A  .'  .•'/  ' 


'Aif 


Col.  W,  Sci^t  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  ^^ 

;i^,%*vi»£  Washington,  January  30,  1813w  > 
**  SIR— I  think  it  my  duty  to  lay  before  the  Depart- 
ment, that  on  the  arrival  at  Quebec  of  the  American  pri- 
soners of  war  surrendered  at  Q,ueenstown,  they  were  mus« 
tered  and  examined  by  British  ofilcers  appointed  to  that 
duty,  and  every  native  born  of  the>  united  kingdom  of 
Oreat  Britain  iind  Ireland,  sequestered  and  sent  on  board 
a  ship  of  war  then  in  that  harbor.  The  vessel  in  a  few 
days  thereafter  sailed  for  England  with  those  persons  on 
board. 

-/Between  li'teenand  twenty  persons  were  thus  taken 
from  us,  principally  natives  of  Ireland,  several  of  whom 
were  known  by  their  platoon  officers  to  be  naturalized  cit< 
izens  of  the  United  States,  and  others  to  have  been .  long 
resident  within  the  same.  One  in  particular^  whose  name 
has  escaped  me,  besides  having  complied  witli  all  the  con- 
ditions of  our  naturalization  laws,  was  represented  by  his 
ofB^rs  to  have  left  a  wife  and  five  children,  all  of  them 
were  born  within  the  state  of  New- York. 
«?  I  distinctly  understood,  as  well  from  the  officers  who 
xame  on  board  the  prison  ship  for  the  above  ^uf^oses  m 


'^* 


THE  ENEMY. 


aio 


■■>f 


fVom  others,  T^ifh  whom  I  remonstrated  on  this  subject, 
that  it  was  the  determination  of  the  British  government,  as 
expressed  through  sir  OeorgQ  Prevost,  to  punish  eveiy 
man  whom  it  might  subject  to  its  power,  found  in  arms  a- 
galnst  the  British  king,  contrary  to  his  native  allegiance., 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  W.  SCOTT, 

Lieut,  col.  U.  S.  2d  artiUeij, 

,     ^   Mr.  BeasUy  to  ih^  S£cretary  of  State. 

London,  March  1,  1813. 
Sir— ^Annexed  you  have  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Hen- 
ry Kelly,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  twenty-two  persons. 
He  states,  that  they  are  all  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
and  have  wives  and  families  there ;  that  they  were  taken 
last  October  in  Upper  Canada,  and  that  they  were  sent  to 
this  country  because  they  were  bora  within  the  British 
dominions. 

^  I  am,  respectfully,  &;c.  ^  * 

^:     (Signed)  R.  O.  BEASLEY.  5 


uy^. 


^ft--p  .^:, 


On  board  H.  M.  skip  Namur,  lying  at 
.,.-^1;  the  Norct  February  6,  18^3.       -' 

Sir — This  is  to  inform  you  of  the  undernamed  23  A- 
merican  sddiers,  belonging  to  the  13  th,  6th  and  1st  regi- 
ments of  the  United  States  armies.  We  were  taken  on 
the  13th  of  October  in  Upper  Canada.  The  reason  of 
their  sending  us  23  here  is,  we  were  born  in  the  British 
dominions,  though^we  are  all  citizens  of  the  United  States* 
and  have  our  wives  and  children  there.  We  are  in  a  very 
miserable  situation  for  clothing,  having  dr;uvn  no  winter 
clothes  before  we  were  taken.  We  thereftire  hope  you, 
will  seud  us  some  relief  to  shelter  us  froitttlie  inclemency 
of  the  weather. 
.     Sir,  I  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  ,  ,^  HENRY  KELLY. 


■* 


'?••. 


Sir,  these  are  the  names  of  my  fellow   FufTerers!  ¥ 

Matthew  Mooney-jf;  | 
Patrick  Karns        '  t 


Henry  Blaney 
George  M'Cammon 


H'iJ 


Jol\pI)oltoa 


John  Fitzgerald 


'i 


'.'..•( 


m 


\. 

if 

}■• 

m 

\ 

.j'j.i 

i... 

w 

X 

,  1,. 

! 

4 


■^ 


84 


BARBARITIES  OF 


"  .^<  ....".•  '■  , 

John  Wiley 

John  Donnely                 ;^ 

John  Curry 

Nathan  Shaley 

£<1ward  M'Oariga^ 

John  Oinnue 

John  Willianw 

George  Johnson 

Michael  Condin 
^ohn  Clark 
Peter  Burr 
Andrew  Doyl^ 
John  M'Oowao 
James  Qill 
John  Fuisum 
Patrick  M'Braharty 
Mr,  R,  Q.  Becisleyt 

Extract  of  a  Utter  from  4dmral  sir  John  Borlase  Wavr 
ren  to  me  secretary  of  states  dated  \ 

l^RMCDA,  March  8, 1813. 
"  I  must  refer  you  to  my  letter  of  the  30th  of  Septem« 
ber,  1812,  in  which  I  state^d  tlie  circumstance  '  f  twelve 
men  belonging  to  the  Guerrier«,  taken  out  of  a  cartel  by 
commodore  Rodgers,  and  illegally  detained,  upon  the 
•pretext  of  six  others,  who  were  supposed  (q  be  British 
subjects,  having  been  sent  to  the  united  kingdom  for  ex- 
amination; since  that  event,  five  of  these  people,  named 
in  the  enclosed  list,  have  been  received  at  Halifax  with 
orders  for  their  discharge.  I  therefore  request  you  will 
communfcate  these  particiUars  to  the  President,  in  order 
that  further  directions  may  be  given  respecting  the  Ouer> 
riete^s  tnen,  so  long  confined  at  Boston,  and  to  obviate 
the  other  inconveniencies  which  must  inevitably  arise  froni 
such  practices^" 

T%e  Secretary  of  State  to  Admiral  Warren,         4  , 
,  Extract,  dated,  April  16,  1813.     >■ 

"  "  It  appears  by  your  letter  (of  the  8th  of  March,  fron^ 
Bermuda)  thalifive  only  of  the  seamen  that  were  taken 
on  board  the  N^i^lus  and  sent  to  England,  in  confioementt 
have  been  returned.  No  account  is  given  of  the  sixth. 
Orders  have  been  issued  for  the  release  of  ten  of  the  twelve 
men,  who,  on  a  principle  of  retaliation,  were  confined  by 
comodore  Rodgers  at  Boston.  Tou  will  be  sensible  that 
it  will  be  impossible,  on  that  principle,  to  discharge  thi^ 
other  two  men  until  the  sixth  American  seaman  is  return" 
,ed,  or  such  an  explanation  given  of  the  cause  of  hisdeteo-  j' 
lion^  as,  accorc^iig  to  the  circun^stanc^softhccase^regar^-- 


■•  *   f 


'  '1 


tTHE  EKEMt. 


'ing  the  conduct  of  the  British  goTernment  towards  Amer- 
ican seamen  under  similar  circumstances,  ought  to  be  sat. 
iafactory." 

Extract  of  n  letter  from  lieut.  Pi  H.  Babbit  to  master 
commandant  fVm,  M.  Crane  of  ike  United  States  navy 
(late  cf  the  Ui  S.  brig  Nautilus,)  daUd 

Boston,  Mass.  13th  Sept.  1812. 
Enclosed  I  send  70U  a  description  of  the  proportion  of 
our  little  crew,  who  have  been  so  debased  and  traitorous 
as  to  enter  the  serVice  of  otir  enemy.  Also,  a  list^  of 
ihose  gallant  fellows,  whose  glorj  it  would  have  been  to 
have  lost  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  cotintry,  and 
whose  misfortune  it  has  been  tp  cross  the  Atlantic  on  sus- 
picion of  tlieir  being  British  subjects^four  of  them  native 
born  Americans,  and  two  naturalized  citizens^  On  their 
parting  with  me,  and  removal  from  the  Africa  of  64  guns 
to  the  Thetis  frigate  (the  latter  with  a  conVby  from  Eng- 
land, then  in  43,  30, 17.  and  46,  30,  W.)  their  last  request 
and  desire  was,  that  I  would  particularly  acquaint  you 
Witli  their  situation,  with  their  determination  never  to  prove 
traitors  to  that  country  whose  flag  .they  were  proud  to 
serve  under,  and  whose  welfare  and  prosperity  they  equal- 
ly hoped  and  anticipatied  to  realise. 

(Signed)  t'.H.  BABBIT. 

A  list  (f  m£n  said  to  have  entered  on  board  his  B.  M.  frig- 
ate Sliahnon^  com.  Broke.  Their  description  as  Jar  a$ 
knorvn. 

JfeSBE  Bates,  seaman,  about  5  feet  0  inches  high, 
dark  hair  and  complexion,  dark  snapping  eyes,  has  an  im- 
pediment in  his  speech,  and  at  times  aifects  lunacy ;  has  a 
Wife  and  family  in  Boston,  Mass. 
,  SamxjeI'  La  kg,  marine,  born  in  Kentucky,  5  feet  8 
inches  high,  or  thiereaboiits,  and  is  supposed  to  be  with 
.  captain  Hall  of  C*  S;  marines,  New- York. 

John  Toung,  marine,  5  feet  5  inches  high,  large  mouth, 
enlisted  with  taptain  Hall,  navy-yard.  New- York ;  whea 
addressed,  or  iis  addressing  an  ofiicer,  casts  down  his  eyeft. 


rt 


^  This  list  not  reG«ived. 


if   , 

I'll] 


M 


■'!,"', 


il     ^       :.   ?        -: 

"^     1 

~  lE 


'  ^1 


;» 


BARBARITIES  OF 


For  his  particular  description,  as  well  as  that  of  John  Roto^ 
murine,  about  5  feet  8  Inches  high,  brown  hair,  fiill  face, 
tiiick  Bet,and  a  scowl  in  his  countenance,  refer  to  captain 
John  Hall. 

John  O'Neal,  seaman,  about  25  years  of  age,  5  feet  5 
inches  high,,  dark  hair,  sharp  face,  dark  tyes,  thick  se^ 
and  was  shipped  a^  Norfolk, /Y  a.  previous  to  jour  taking 
command  of  the  Nautilus. 

William  JovrB8,ord.  seaman,  about  5  feet  8  inches  high, 
light  hair,  24  years  of  age,  full  face,  thick  set,  down  cast 
look,  and  is  a  veiy  alert  man  j  entered  at  New- York  April 
last. 

(Signed)  ,   ^<  F.  H.B. 

Sir  John  BorUtse  Warren  to  Mr.  Mmroe. 

Malifax,  30th  Sept.  1812. 
Sir— 'Having  received  information  that  a  most  unau- 
thorized act  has  been  committed  by  commodore  Rogers,  in 
,  forcibly  seizing  twelve  British  seamen,  prisoners  oi  war, 
late  belonging  to  the  Guerriere,  and  taking  them  out  of  the 
English  cartel  brig  Endeavor,  on  her  passage  down  the 
harbor  cf  B(»too,  after  they  had  been  regularly  eml;>af  ked 
on  board  of  her  for  an  exchange  agreetible  to  the  arrange- 
ments settled  between  the  two  coutitries,  and  that  the  said 
British  seamen,  so  seized,  are  now  detained  on  board  the 
United  States*  frigate  President,  as  hostages  {  I  feel  my- 
self called  upon  to  request,  sir,  your  most  serious  attention 
to  a  measure  so  fraught  with  mischief  and  inconvenience, 
destructive  of  the  go6d  faith  of  a  Ong  of  truce  and  the  sac- 
red protection  of  a  cartel.  I  Biiouid  be  extremely  sorry 
that  the  imprudent  act  of  an  ofiic  er  should  involve  codse- 
quences  so  particularly  severe  as  the  pnsent  instance  must 
naturally  produce  if  repeated :  and  although  it  is  very 
much  my  wish,  during  the.  continuance  of  the  differences 
existing  between  the  two  countries,  to  adopt  every  meas- 
ure that  might  render  the  effect  of  war  legs  rigorous,  yet, 
in  another  point  of  v^ew,  the  conviction  of  the  duty  I  owe 
my  country  would,  in  the  event  of  such  grievances  as  I 
have  already  stated,  b^ing  continued,  not  admit  of  any 
hesitation  in  retaliatory  decisions ;  bift  as  I  am  strongly 
persuaded  of  the  high  liberality  of  your  sentiments,  and 


i 


4^ 


^ 


THE  ENEMY. 


37 


Ihiit  the  act  complained  of  has  originated  entirely  with  the 
oflicer  who  commitled  it,  and  tliat  it  will  be  as  censnrablc 
in  your  consideration  as  it  deserves,  I  rely  upon  yoiir  tuk- 
ino"  such  steps  as  will  prevent  a  recurrance  of  conduct  so 
extremely  reprehensible  in  eveiy  shape. 

t  have  the-  honor  to  be,  &c.  ^ 

(Signed)  JOHN  BDllLASE  WAEREN, 

Admiral  of  the  blue^  and  lommandir  in  ckitj\  k'V. 
His  excellency  Janies  Monroe,  esq. 
Secretary  of  State. 


,i     'i    -'!.» 


Mr.  Monroe  to  Sir  John  Borlase  Warren.  .    . 

Department  of  Stale^  October  28, 1 81 2, 
Sir — I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the 
30th  September,  complaining  that  commodore  Rodgers, 
commanding  a  squadron  of  the  United  States  navy  at  the 
port  of  Boston,  had  taken  twelve  British  seamen,  lately 
belonging  to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  the  Guerriere, 
from  a  cartel  in  the  harbor  of  Boston,  and  that  he  detain- 
ed them  on  board  the  President,  a  frigate  of  the  United 
States,  ap  hostages.  ..   v  ,  W^  ;•', 

I  am  instructed  to  inform  you  th|t  enquiry  shall  be  made 
into  the  circumstances  attending  and  the  causes  which  pro- 
duced the  acts)f  which  you  complain,  and  t'la'  such  meas- 
ures will  be  taken  on  a  knowledge  of  them,  as  may  com- 
port with  the  rights  of  both  nations,  and  may  be  proper  in 
the  case  to  which  they  relate^ 

I  beg  you,  sir,  to  be  assured  that  it  is  the  sincere  desire 
of  the  President  tb  see  (and  to  promote,  so  far  as  depends 
on  the  United  States)  that  the  Avar  which  exists  between 
our  countries  be  conducted  with  the  utmost  regard  to  hu- 
manity. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)      ';;  .       JAMES  MONROE. , 
Sir  John  Borlase  Warren,  admiral  of  the  bluCy 
.J.  ;     commander  in  chief  &Cy       ^     .   ,^j^ 


-t, 


«''  ! 


.^*^ 


-  Washington,  Decembev'  17,  1812. 

^    Sir- — I  have  the  honor  to  annex  a  list  of  twelve  of  the 
ctew  of  the  late  United  States'  sloop  of  vmr  Wasp,  detain- 


^'^\'^^ 


♦  ] 


1    ;i 


>'      t. 


m 


M 


m 


!■  f;I 


si&:  M 


:i-i 


^  '1 

,;I:,t1| 

1'  '!> 


^ 


BARBARITIES  OF 


ed  by  captain  John  Beresford,   of  the  British  ship  Pole- 

tiers,  under  the  pretence  of  their  being  British  subjects. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &:c. 

GEORGE  S.  WISE,  pitrser. 

The  hon.  Paul  Hamilton^  secretary  ff  the  navy. 
List  referred  to  in  the  preceding  note. 

John  M' Cloud,  boatswain,  has  been  in  the  service  since 
1 804.  Married  in  Norfolk  in  1 804  or  5,  and  has  a  wife 
and  4  children  there.         '.'s'^'    -   »^^- 

John  Stephens,  boatsw\in*8  mate,  has  been  in  t!ie  service 
6  or  6  years. 

George  M.  D.  Read,  quarter  master  haf5  a  protection,  and 
i.as  sailed  ou.  of  New- York  and  Philadelphia  for  sev- 

,  eral  years.         '■■"'■,  »  "  \'    Z'*""  ' 

(William  Mitchell,  scahian,  James  Gothright,  do.  John 
Wright,  do.  Thomas  Phillips,  do.  Peter  Barron,  do* 
John  Connor  ord.seaman,  John  Rose,do.  George  Brooks, 
do.  Dennis  Lougherty,  marine,  the  greater  number,  if 
not  all,  had  protections  at  tlie  time  of  entering  and  being 
taken.  Tavo  others  Mere  detained— John  Wade  and 
Thongs  Hutching  J  but  were  given  up,  the  former  on 
capt.  Jone.«'  assuring  capt.  Beresford  he  knew  him  to 
be  a  native  citizen :  tHe  latter  on  a  like  assurance  from 
D.  Rogers. 

WilUam  Mitchell  was  in  the  service  during  1805  and  6, 
in  the  Mediterranean, 

GEORGE  S.  WISE,  purser. 
IVasiungton  City,  Dec.  17,  1812. 

tlxtract  of  a  letter  from  Major  General  Pinckney  to  the 
Secretary  at  War,  dated 

Headquarters,  •  ■ 
Charleston,  November  4, 1812. 
*[  Information  having  hp«-n  given  upon  oath  to  lieutenant 
Oraiidison,  who  at  present  commands  in  the  naval  df  part- 
tHent  here,  that  six  American  seamen,  who  had  been  tak- 
oi  prisoners  on  board  our  privateers,  liad  beeu  I'cnt  to  Ja- 
flaicd  to  be  tried  as  Britith  subjects  for  treason,  he  called 
sjpon  the  marshal  to  i-etaia  double  that  number  of  British 
Bpsmen  as  hostages.  The  L.^rJial  in  consequence  of  in- 
stfWiCtioos  fioni  the  department  of  state,  asked  my  advice 


>  ( 


THE  EKEMT. 


aQ 


on  the  subject,  and  I  have  given  my  opinion  that  they 
ought  to  be  detained  until  tlie  pleasure  of  the  president 
shall  be  known.  The  testimony  of  captiain  Moon  is  here- 
with.. I  hope,  sir,  you  m  ill  have  the  goodness  to  have  this 
business  put  in  the  proper  triiin  to  have  the  president's 
pleasure  on  this  subject  communicated  to  the  marshal.'* 

Copy  of  a  Idtcrfrom  captain  Moon,  of  the  privateer  S'a- 

rah  Ann.  . 
Nassau,  Ncw-Prcvidcmx  Octolir  14,  1812. 

Six  of  my  crew,  claimed  as  Biilisii  subjets,  were  this 
day  taken  out  of  jail  and  put  ou  board  his  majesty's  bri^ 
the  Sappho,  and  sailed  for  Jamaica,  where  'tis  said  they 
are  to  be  tried  for  their  lives ;  consequently  I  quest* cned 
each  respectively  as  to  the  place  of  their  nativity,  and  ti- 
tle to  protection  by  tha  American  government,  when  they 
stated  as  follows,  to  wit :  • 

David  Dick,  seaman,  that  he  was  born  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  but  has  resided  in  the  United  States  ever  since 
the  year  1793;  has  served  ten  years  in  the  United  States' 
navy,  viz.  on  board  the  frigates  Chesapeake,  PregidenL 
Constitution,  John  Adams,  and  schooner  Enterprize,  ana 
gun  boat  No.  2.  David  Dick,  shoemL  er,  in  Alexandria, 
is  his  unclv  Dick  is  about  five  foet  sbc  and  a  half  incites 
'ligh,  dark  liair,  has  a  scar  on  his  left  elbow,  and  one  on 
each  wrist;  he  entered  on  board  the  Sarah  Ann  in  Balti- 
more. 

John  Gaul,  seaman,  says  he  war  born  in  Marblchead, 
state  of  Massachusetts,  wherohis  parents,  brothers  and  sis- 
ters now  reside ;  is  married  in  J>few-York,  and  his  wife 
(Mary  Gaul)  Hves  m  Roosevelt  street,  No.  37  has 
a  regular  discliarge  from  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  by  capt.  Hugh  G.  Campbell,  dated  at  St  Mary's, 
Georgia,  14th  August,  1812;  says  he  has  served  on  board 
the  United  States'  brig  Yixeg,  g'  ,  boats  No.  10  and  15u, 
from  the  laol  of  which  he  was  discharged.  Gaul  is  27 
years  of  age,  about  five  feet  seven  inches  high,  brown  hair,  ^ 
light  complexion ;  he  eutenid  on  board  the  Sarah  Ann  in 
Baltimore. 

Michael  Pluck,  ordinary  seaman,  says  he  was  born  in 
JSaltimore ;  iiis  parents  aie  dead,  but  he  is  known  by 


1..'  i! 


1^ 


40 


BARBARITIES  OF 


William  Doulan,  Thomas  Tamer  and  M'Donald,  of  Bal- 
timore ;  has  a  sister  in  some  part  of  Pennsylvania,  whose 
name  is  Ann  Welsh,  was  never  at  sea  before ;  never  had 
a  protection,  Pluck  is  twenty-six  years  ol^,  five  feet  six 
and  a  half  inches  high,  and  has  a  scar  on  his  left  cheek 
bone ;  entered  on  board  the  Sarah  \.nn  at  Baltimore. 

Thomas  Rogers,  seaman,  »ays  he  was  boro  in  Waterford, 
Ireland,  but  has  i^esided  many  years  in  tlie  United  States, 
and  has  been  duly  naturalized,  a  copy  of  which  natu- 
ralizatiau  is  filed  in  the  custom-house  at  Baltimore  ;.  jis 
known  by  Joseph  Carey  and  Tom  Rogers,  cork  cirtter, 
both  of  Baltimore;  has  a  wife  and  three  children  in  BaJii- 
more ;  has  lost  his  protection,  but  requests  Joseph  Carey 
to  do  all  he  can  to  effect  his  discharge  from  the  Brit^sji. 
Rogers  entered  on  board  the  Sarah  Ann  in  Baltimore. 

George  Roberts,  a  colored  man  and  seaman.  This  man 
I  had  not  an  opportunity  of  questioning ;  but  J  know  him 
to  be  a  native  bom  citizen  of  the  United  States,  of  which 
feet  he  had  every  sufficient  document,  together  with  free 
papers.  Roberts  entered  on  board  the  Sarah  Ann  in  Bal- 
timore, where  he  is  married. 

Sonty  Taylor,  boy,  says  he  was  born  in  Hackensack; 
New-Jersey,  but  has  neither  friends,  relations,  nor  ac- 
quaintance tJiere  ;  says  Jane  Snowden  of  Savannah,  Geor- 
gia, is  his  mother ;  never  had  a  protection.  Taylor  is  fif^ 
teen  years  old,  has  brown  hair  and  light  complexion ;  he 
eatered  on  board  the  Sarah  Ann  in  Savannah. 

■^   ^^  RICHARD  MOON. 
,;. ;.  Late  commander  of  the  privateer  Sarah  AnUy 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  Admiral  Warren  to  Mr.  Mitch  el, 
'  a^cnt  for  the  exchange  of  American  priso7irrs  of  ivar, 

dated,  «-•    v     Halifax,  21st  October,  1812. 

Sir — I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  and  its  en- 
closures relating  to  Thomas  Dunn,*  and  beg  leave  to  in- 
form you,  that  it  appears  the  said  man  is  married  in  Eng- 
land, has  been  eight  years  in  his  majesty's  service,  and 
received  a  pension  from  government :  under   these  cir-- 

•  Note.  The  applicaiion  was  made  at  the  requeft  of  his  fathcv 
John  I)acn,  of  Boston  vho  tranemiUttl  a  drpositioo  of  his  birtb. 


1 


*,» 


THE  ENEMY. 


AT 


ciimstancefe',  and  the  man  never  having  made  any  appli- 
cation for  his  discharge  from  prison,  he  continues  on  board 
the  Statira.  ,^     .  ., 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  JOHN  BORLi^E  WARREN. 


-*.S<''> 


J^??#(^ 


\:'^im.i 


Extract  of  a  letter  ft  cm  William  H.  Saveige,  late  agent 

for  American  seamen  and  commerce  at  Jamaica,  ta  the 

Secretary  cf  StcUe,  dated 

■■':■•-■ -r^t!)  Washington,  December  1,  1812. 

"  I  take  the  liberty  to  enclose  you  copies  of  a  corres- 
pondence which  took  place  between  vice  admiral  Sterling 
(commanding  on  the  Jamaica  station)  and  myself  since  the 
declaration  of  war.  I  should  hi  ve  furnished  it  you  at  an 
earlier  period,  but  an  accident  prevented,  which  I  Avas  not 
aware  of,  until  my  arrival  at  this  city."  y^-.ii^^':''^' 

Copy  of  my  letter  to  vice  Admiral  Stirling,  ccmmanding 
on  (lie  Jamaica  station  on  the  subject  of  American  sea- 
men  after  the  didaratic.  .f  war.    iuVM.;^^^'^,;  ^^t-y 
Kingston,  Jamaica,  6th  August,  1812. 
Sir — Enclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  by  me 
yesterday  from  on  board  his  majestyV  ship  Sappho,  pur- . 
porting  to  have  been  written  by  four  American  seamen  on 
board  ihni  ship,  with  a  view  to  solicit  my  aid  towards  ef- 
fecting their  discharge,  in  consequence  of  the  declaration 
of  war  by  th.e  government  of  the  United  States  against 
Gre.nBriUiu. 

In  making  this  application  I  am  fully  aware  th?it  my 
I'viii'-s  ceased  as  agent  for  the  commerce  and  seamen  of 
I'lp  J  ared  States,  on  the  laiowledge  of  such  declaration 
b  ■;'.  r  ade  known  here  :  but,  sir,  I  am  led  to  beljeve  that 
at  il'v  p.rioiUt  will  not  be  deemed  inadmissible  on  jTur 
part  to  leceive,  nor  improper  on  mine  to  make  the  requect, 
that  you  will  be  pleased  to  grant  ,an  ordir  for  the  c  ia- 
charge  of  these  seamen,  feeling  conscious  (should  they  even 
not  be  protected  with  the  usual  documents  afforded  to  cit- 
izens of  the  United  States)  that  an  Englibh  seaman  w^ould 
not  declare  himself  otherwise  than  such  under  exifctin^cir*- 
cwmstances.    ^ic    -^i^'  y'..*."*^^,.?- v-;.  ..^.a^-;"^.-  /^:.'/>. 


i 


'I    !if 


vf 


'  <i 


Nr  k 


■>.,. 


,^' 


'\, 


,^ 


^. 


y, 


42 


BARBARITIES  OF 


I  seize  the  present  opportunity  also  to  forward  to  you 
twenty-one  (lo^cumeuts,  as  proof  of  the  citizenship  of  that 
number  of  seamen,  said  to  have  been  impressed  by  ship& 
of  war  on  this  station ;  the  greatest  number  of  which  have 
been  heretofore  unsuccessfully  claimed  by  me,  on  behalf 
of  the  United  States,  and  which  may  still  comprise  at  this 
time  some  part  of  the  crews  of  his  majesty*s  ships  on  thia 
station. 

.  I  beg  farther  to  state  to  you,  that  I  have  received  nu- 
merous applications  from  ou  board  various  of  his  majesty '^ 
ships  OB  this  station,  for  the  relief  of  seamen,  who  I  doubt 
not  are  entitled  to  the  protection  of  the  American  govern- 
ment, many  of  them  having  with  them  the  proofs  of  their 
citizenship,  as  1  yn  Wl  to  believe  from  the  assertions  con- 
tained in  their  k.'.  ■  '^ications.  Applications  have  also 
been  made  for  the  i\  J  of  many  without  success  :  the 
latter  amount  in  number  to  foTty-six,  as  per  list  of  names 
enclosed,  several  of  whom  I  understand  have  been  shifted 
{since  their  impressment)  on  board  of  other  vessels  than 
those  they  were  at  first  taken  on  board  of.  All  of  which 
I  beg  to'oiTer  for  your  consideration,  feeling  as  I  do  anxi- 
ous to  extend  my  last  efforts  in  behalf  of  those  seamen 
who  are  entitled  to  them,  and  at  the  same  time  being  im- 
pressed  with  the  idea  that  it  would  be  foreign  to  you,  sir, 
to  retain  any  Americans  in  the  service  of  the  n»vy  of  G. 
Britain  contrary  to  their  disposition  during  the  present 
conflict.  I  theref55>re  tnke  the  liberty  of  adding  to  my  for- 
mer request,  that  you  will  be  pleased  to  grant  orders  that 
such  seamen  may  be  discharged  from  duty  on  board  hi» 
majesty's  ships  on  this  station.  >     , .  « 

With  sentiments  of  the  highest  respect,  &c. 
/      (Signed)  WM.H.  SAVAGE. 


•p.  <i  y 


Copy  of  Vice  Admiral  Stirling's  Secretary's  ktter,  in  an- 
S7wr  to  mine  to  the  Vice  Admiral,  of  the  Qth  August, 

^^  -        ■         AdmiraVs  Pcnn^Aug.  7,  1812. 

^  Sin— I  am  desired  by  vice  admiral  Stirling  to  ac- 
knowledge the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  yesterday's  date, 
^nd  to  acquaint  you  that  directions  were  given  some  days 
ago»  that  all  the  m^n  in  the  squadron  cuid^  his  commain), 


'fn* 


•->vv.. 


THE  ENEMY. 


33 


who  can  prove  themselves  to  be  American  born  subjects, 
should  be  sent  to  the  prison  ship  until  an  exchange  of  pris- 
oners is  established  between  the  two  countries,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  late  declaration  of  war  by  the  United  States 
against  Great  Britain. 

I  return  herewith  the  papers  which  accompanied  tout 
letter,  And  am' sir,  &c.-k -?"■", ^  ■■:■li>^^^M^^Jm^  Vi") 

r  ^     CHARLES  STIRLmO,  JuNR.    i 

,;.v.' s-'-.^ivf,!.-.  ■'-:'^::'^''.-  ,^_  .-^,  Secretary, 

''     ■:.:'-'%  ■*'  -_»„  ■     ■^•■"' 

Extract  of  a  letter  frt,  m  Wm.  H.  Savage,  Esq^  late  agent 
for  American  seamen  and  commerce  at  Jamaica,  ta 
Charles  Stirling^  JunnEsq.  dated 

Kingston,  Sept.  \%,  \%^2. 
"  In  answer  to  my  letter  of  the  6th  ult.  you  were  pleas- 
ed to  inform  me  that  directions  had  been  given  by  the 
vice  admiral,  some  days  prior  to  the  date  of  my  letter,  for 
the  removal  of  all  native  Americans  (who  could  prove 
themselves  8uch)from  on  board  his  majesty's  shiph  to  that  of 
the  prison  ship ;  but  as  some  time  has  now  elapsed  since  you 
were  pleased  to  give  me  this  information,  and  learning  that 
some  instances  of  detention  at  present  exist  on  board  his 
majesty's  schooner  Decouverte,  I  am  led  to  embrace  the 
subject  again,  as  in  one  instance  I  shall  hope  to  satisfy 
vice  admiral  Stirling  of  the  roan's  being  entitled  to  his  re- 
moval from  duty  on  board  his  majesty's  schooner  of  war. 
The  person  alluded  to  is  Elijah  Stirling,  an  American  sea« 
man,  who  was  impressed  from  on  board  the  ^British  mer- 
chant ship  Brilliant,  at  the  bay  of  Honduras,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year  1810,  by  his  majesty's  schooner  Flordel 
Mar,  and  has  since  been  detained  on  board  of  various  of 
his  majesty's  ships  on  this  station,  although  provided  with 
a  regular  protection,  which  instrument  this  man  got  con- 
veyed to  me  about  the  20th  of  Sept.  following,  and  which 
was  by  me  forwarded  to  admiral  Rowley,  accompanied 
(as  usual  in  like  cases)  with  a  request  that  the  man  might 
be  discharged.  On  the  receipt  of  my  letter,  the  admiral 
answered  through  his  secretary,  that  the  nature  of  Stir- 
ling's impressment  was  such  that  he  could  not  comply 
wiUi  my  request ;  but  which  answer  was  unaccompanied 


»»<'.  . 


il 

iill 

"Pi 

-to: 


■'I 


'  n 


A' 
I.  ■ 


z:h 


\ 


r 


H 


m 


.Ku.j^..-a*.V,^,i  —r- 


'**': 


ai*..*uii 


'«•. 


BARBARITIES  OF 


,^k^. 


in  return  with  the  protection  in  question,  and  what  has  be* 
come  of  it  I  am  unable  to  say.  •  ■  .^.ii    2' 

"  About  this  period  I  was  led  to  understand  frofn  ad 
miral  Rowley,  that  all  American  seamen  who  should  be 
impressed  from  on  board  any  Britieh  merchant  vessel, 
would  be  retained  in  the  service  of  his  majesty,  but  that 
all  American  seamen  who  should  be  impressed  from  on 
board  of  American  vesssels,  would  on  application,  accom- 
panied by  proofs,  be  discharged.  As  this  iufoimation  was. 
received  about  the  period  of  my  application  for  the  dis- 
charge  of  Stirling,  I  was  led  to  conclude  it  stampt  the  na- 
ture  of  his  impressment,  and  wl.at  confirmed  it  in  my  mind 
was  that  I  received  similar  assurances  to  various  applica- 
tions made  for  American  seamen  who  had  under  various 
circumstances,  shipped  on  board  of  British  ships,  and  were 
from  thence  impressed,  on  board  of  his  majesty's  ships  of 
war,  all  of  which  I  hope  the  admiral  will  be  pleased  to 
take  into  consideratioiy;  for  to  insist  on  the  service  of  this 
man,  1  think  will-be  a  dereliction  to  the  marked  manner  of 
bis  amiable  endeavors  to  distinguish  and  relieve  Ameri- 
can sea^nen  from  duty  on  board  the  squadron  under  his 
command.  I  beg  to  enclose  a  note  from  Mr.  Meek  (the 
late  secretary^  relative  to  my  application  for  this  man's 
discharge,  ana  to  observe,  that  if  it  is  possible  the  protec- 
tion may  yet  be  found  among  the  papers  of  the  late  secre- 
tary, as  it  has  not  been  usual  to  reiurn  me  the  protections 
of  those  men  whose  applications  for  discharge  were  not 
complied  with. 

**  I  beg  furthermore  to  observe  that  there  appears  also 
to  be  on  board  his  majesty's  schooner  Decouverte,  two 
other  American  seamen,  viz :  John  Euglefitld  and  Rich- 
ard Lauderkin  ;  the  former  of  whom  asserts,  that  he  serv- 
ed his  apprenticeship  to  the  irade  of  a  cooper  at  Boston, 
but  Itas  lost  his  protection ;  the  latter  declares  himself  to 
be  a  native  of  Rhode  Islam!,  and  that  his  protection  hias 
been  destroyed  by  Mr.  Oliver,  commander  of  Jiis  majes- 
ty's schooner  Decouverte.  I  shall  not  now  animadvert 
on  the  impropriety  of  such  a  circumstance;  but  request, 
should  the  instance  here  cited  be  found  correct,  that  they 
may  meet  the  attefltion  of  the  vice  admiral.'*  rs^-'^m-  *  t 


m' 


'>'.  v.-i 


^ 


*.-    0~.Jt^.m,~^      ^""^ 


..flf  *^ , 


itll 


'%^^ 


i-fl 


H- 


,%.,■• 


'/» 


THE  ENEMY. 


45 


MxlrAct  of  a  letter  ftom  vice  admiral  Stirling's  sccrdan^, 
to  W.  H.  Savage  Esq.  in  answer  to  his  of  the  lOth 
Spt,Ul2.  .,      _,    ii/  V  -  V    , 

AdmiraVs  Pcnn,  Wth  Sept.  1812i 
"  I  have  just  received  your  letter  of  the   16th  inst. 
Avhich  I  have  laW  before  vice  admiral  Stirling,  and  I  am 
directed  to  acquaint  j-ou,  that  Elijah  Stirling  and  other 
persons  on  board  of  his  majesty's  schooner  Decouverte, 
said  to  be  American  seamen,  have  not,  when  called  upon, 
produced  proof  of  being  subjects  of  the  United  States. — 
They  do  not  fall  under  the  description  of  persons  which 
I  informed  you  in  my  letter  of  the  7th  ult.  were  intended 
to  be  discharged  from  the  king's  service,  and  to  be  de-  . 
tained  on  board  the  prison  ship  until  an  exchange  of  pris-  ^ 
oners  takes  place  with  America. 

"  The  note  from  Mr.  Meek,  dated  the  21st  Sept.  1810, 
is  returned  herewith,  and  as  it  pppears  thereby  that  ad- 
miral Rowley  thought  that  the  circumstances  under  which 
Elijah  Stirling  was  impressed,  did  not  permit  him  to  be  i. 
discharged,  vice  admiral  Stirling  does  not  feel  himself  jus-  , 
tided  in  attending  to  the  man's  wishes  on  a  bare  assertion. 
The  protection  you  allude  to  is  not  to  be  found  artiong  ad« 
miral  Rowley's  papers  left  at  this  office."  ^^  ^ .    ,^  v^/i^? 


No.  III.       '^ 

JPETENTION  OF  MARINERS  AS  PRISONERS 
WERE  IN  ENGLAND  AT  THE  TIME  THE 
GLARED, .-  ■^--i-iiv:'-i»'  fad-'- ^  ^ 


W 


;^^i- 


OF    WAR,  WHO 
WAR   WAS   DE'' 


■J.  W.  Crokcrto  Mr.  Beaslcy.   --'^"^    '  f^|^^ 
'^W?  Admiralty  Office,  5th  Avgust.  1812.* 

Sir — Having  communicated  to  my  lords  commissioners 
of  the  admiralty  your  letter  of  the  31st  ultimo,  transmitt- 
ing a  list  of  men,  said  to  be  Americans,  who  have  been 
impressed  and  detained  on  board  his  majesty's  ships,  and 
requesting  their  discharge,  I  have  their  lordships,  com- 
mands to  acquaint  you,  that  under  present  circuuctanceSj 
they  will  defer  the  consideration  of  tliis  request. 

I  am,  &c. 

'^■'  *  '      (Signed)  J.  W.  CROKEJl..     ■ 

/?.  G.  Bcasky,  Esq.  '  ^"     •  •       »    ' 


i^ 


ill 


43 


JBARBARITIES  OF 


,*  ' 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Beasley  to  the  Secretary  of 

StatCy  dated. 
^     •'  London,  October  23,  1812. 

.  >'  I  have  informed  you  that  I  had  addressed  lord  Cas- 
4lereagh  on  the  subject  of  our  citiz'-os  who  have  been  im- 
pressed, and  are  now  held  in  the  British  naval  service, 
I  demanded  their  release,  and  complained  of  the  treatment 
which  some  had  received  on  offering  to  give  themselves 
lip  as  prisoners,  or  refusing  to  serve  when  they  heard  of 
tlie  war.  In  reply,  I  have  received  a  short  note  fron\ 
Mr.  Cooke,  one  of  the  under  secretaries,  stating,  that  he 
was  instructed  to  require  of  me  the  names  of  the  men  who 
had  received  the  treatment  complained  of,  and  the  vessels 
in  which  they  were,  which  I  immediately  furnished,  and 
urged  a  reply  to  the  other  part  of  my  letter.  In  an  in<f 
terview  I  have  since  had  with  Mr.  Cooke,  I  took  occa- 
sion to  remind  him  of  it,  when  he  intimated  that  the  gov- 
ernment did  not  intend  to  answer  me  on  that  point ;  adding 
that  England  was  fighting  the  battles  of  the  world ;  we 
bad  ciiosen  to  go  to  war  and  so  aid  the  great  enemy,  and 
that  England  bad  as  much  right  to  recruit  her  army  aa4 
oavy,  in  every  possible  manner,  as  France," 

Mr,  JBeasley  to  lard  Castlereagh. 

Wimpole  Street,  October  1 2th,  1812. 

My  LoRb'-^In  consequence  of  the  war  unhappily  ex- 
isting between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  it  has 
become  my  duty  to  call  your  lordBhip's  attention  to  tlie 
situation  of  the  f^reat  number  of  American  seamen  who 
"have  been  impressed,  and  are  no\v  held  in  the  ships  of  war 
of  his  Britannic  majesty.  In  addition  to  the  wrong  which  is 
done  to  the  United  States  by  this  detention  of  their  sea- 
men, I  regret  to  state,  that  some  of  these  unfortunate  per- 
sons, having  heard  of  the  war  and  oliered  to  give  them- 
selves up  as  prisoners,  have,  for  so  doing,  or  for  refusing 
to  do  service,  been  punished. 

To  put  an  end  to  a  proceeding  and  a  state  of  things  so 
revolting  to  humanity,  and  so  contrary  to  the  law  and  us- 
age of  civilized  nations,  I  persuade  myself  it  is  only  ne- 
cessary to  present  them  to  the  view  of  the  Bvitis^h  gov- 
ernment I  and  I  therefore  trust  that  effectual  mcasjiven 


/ 


^THE  ENEMY. 


5*^ 


m 


vfiW  be  immediately  taken  to  restore)  these  injured  men 
to  liberty  and  to  their  country. 
z'  s;  I:';.     .    "•      I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 
;     (Signed)  .    R.  G.  BEASLEf. 


]S>  Cooke  to  R.  O.  Beasl^»  '-" 

•"  ,  ^  "  Foreign  Office,  }Qth^Octobery  ISU. 
""  In  consequence  of  your  letter  to  lord  Castlereagb  of 
the  12thtb  inst.  I  am  directed  by  his  lordship  to  d<;8ire 
you  will  furnish  me  with  the  names  of  the  American  sail* 
ors  who  have  b^o  so  punished,  aod  of  the  ^p  they  are 
onboard."  ,  V         :..*  -.r  .tr.  |  7 

, .;  ■    ,  -  Mr.  Bcasley  to  E.  Cooke* 

Whnpole  Street,  2\si  October,  1812. 

Sirt — Agreeably  to  the  request  contained  in  your  letter 
of  the  19th  inst.  I  now  transmit  to  you  a  list  of  improised 
American  seamen  on  board  British  ships  of  war,  who, 
having  heard  of  the  war,  offered  to  give  themselves  up  as 
prisoners,  and  for  so  doing  or  for  refusing  to  do  service, 
have  been  punished. 

I  beg  you  to  remind  lord  Castlereagh  that  the  other 
part  of  my  letter  of  the  12th  instant,  requesting  the  release 
of  the  American  seamen  detained  in  the  British  service  is 
still  unanswered. 

,.'  ■^-    i  am,  sir,  &c..  ^  --.  "-v ':  '^^^'■- 1^^^'"^. :" 
(Signed)  -,  K.  G.  BEASLEY: 

The  list  referred  to  in  the  preceding  letter,  states  the  cases 

of  the  following  persons, 
John  Ballard,  on  hoard  the  Zenobia,  ofTered  himself 
a  prisoner,  refused,  and  was  put  in  irons  for  one  night.  "^ 

John  Davis,  on  board  the  Thistle,  gave  himself  up  as  a 
prisoner  and  refused  further  servic'e,  for  which  he  was 
flogged. 

Ephraim  Covell,  on  board  La  Hogue,  gave  himself  up 
as  a  prisoner  and  refused  further  service,-  in  consequence 
of  which  be  was  kept  seven  days  io  irons.   •- 

John  Hosman,  on  beard  La  Hogue,  gave  himself  up  as 
3  prisoner  and  refused  fuftfaer  service.;  was  put  in  irons, 
still  kept  therein,  and  waa  ^ireatesed  b|r  the  commander 
with  further  puaishmeat.  '^  '^        ^: :   ^ ; 


^ 


t  } 


t 


f .  -i 


11 


m 


.-:/■■.:  .•'S-:<-r,ik-i-  i;.-./  ",;-, 


-■^-l 


f 


BARBARITIES  OF 


Rusgel  Brainard,  on  board  La  Hogue,  gave  himself  up 
as  a  prisoner,  was  put  in  irons  and  stili  kept  therein. 

Thomas  W.  Marshal,  Peter  Lazettee,  Edward  Whittle 
Banks  and  Levi  Younger,  on  board  the  Royal  William, 
gave  themselves  up  as  prisoners^  and  were  in  consequence 
tliereof  put  into  close  confinement  for  eight  days. 

^  :&  ■*  October,  12,  1812. 

Mr.  Beasley  requests  lord  Castlereagh  to  cause  the  ne- 
cessar)  passports  to  be  furnished  for  the  American  ship 
William  and  Eliza,  Captain  Rowland,  to  proceed  to  the 
United  States  with  American  citizens. 

vt  October  21,  1812. 

Mr.  Cooke  afcqUaitits  Mr.  Beasley  that  there  will  be  no 
obiection  to  granting  a  licence  to  a  cartel  for  carrying  to 
the  United  States  such  American  citizens,  non  combatants, 
as  msy  with  to  return  to  their  country.  He  requests  Mr. 
Bensky  to  infcM-in  him  of  the  situation  of  the  American 
'ship  W'^ilUam  and  Eliza. 


'-yfiM,.n'^^r-,'*^iV/^'*^ 


>vr  ')ij' 


^:> 


^-;    .' 


iU> 


Mr.  Beasley  to  E.  Cooke. 
M^«   WimpoU  Street,  October  23,  1812. 
Sir-*— T  have  now  thr  honor  to  repeat  to  you  what  1 
stated  in  convers-atioi!  this  morning,  that  the  persons  for 
whose  return  to  the  Unitf  d  States  I  requested  the  neces- 
sary pasFporls.  are  for  the  most  part  American  masters 
ami  nJAriners;  that  some  of  them  in  coiisequence  of  the 
loss  of  Iheir  vessels  abroad,  have  come  here  on  their  way 
to  America;  that  others  of  them  having  been  emyloyed  in 
British  ships,  are  noAv  desirous  of  returning  home ;  that 
others,  through  the  detention  or  condemnation  of  their  ves- 
sels under  Biitish  orders  in  council,  and  others,  through 
all  the  CftsuaUies  to  which  this  class  of  men  is  always  ex- 
posed, are  left  without  the  means  of  conveyance.     None 
of  these  persons  have  tjeen  in  any  way  engaged  in  hostili- 
ties against  Great  Britain.     They  are  almost' wholly  des- 
titute and  for  some  time,  have  been  chiefly  supported  at 
the  expense  of  the  United  States.     There  are  albo  I  be- 
lieve, some  AmericaD  merchants  and  supercai^oeg  who 


aic| 

\wt 
lull 

^im| 

(['.HI 

the] 


...x^.. 


^ipr^o 


*x- 


tllE  ENEMr, 


•<0 


■it 

40 


^• 


are  anxious  of  fiTaili»g  tliemselves  of  the  same  opporhioi- 
iy  of  returnin;;  to  llicir  countr)'. 

You  arc,  I  ()ic3iimc,  aware  that  t]»e  American  govern- 
ment hiB  nlTorded  every  facility  to  the  departure  of  those 
IJritush  subjects  in  the  United  States,  mJio  were  undei* 
similar  circuipfitances  with  the  pergons  incmded  in  my  re- 
(|ue8t. 

With  regard  to  tlic  ship  William  and  Eliza,  in  which 
these  persons  are  to  embark,  1  beg  to  observe,  that  I  am 
well  assured  by  those  who  hf»Te  eliarge  of  her,  that  there 
is  ijo  impediment  to  her  departure. 

I  am,  &c. 

R.  G.  BEASLEY.  ;i 


(Signed) 


•'-».'(i~tla:*^^V; 


.'*•  rf^'M  ,^'>t     JE,  Gockc  to  li.  G.  Bcasilcy.  -     ' 

.  •  -tfii  ^{-^J.  p^..  Foreign  Office,  October  28,  1812. 

S'liz — Having  laid  before  lord  Castlercagh  your  IcKer 
rcqucsfing  that  ymi  may  be  allowed  to  send  a  cartel  to 
America,  with  citizens  of  the  United  Stales  wlto  v.ish  to 
return  to  their  country,  I  am  directed  by  his  lordship  lb 
cxprfiss  his  consent  to  this  proposition,  and  am  to  deeiRe 
you  will  confer  with  the  commissioners  for  prisoners  of 
war,  with  regard  to  tlie  account  you  are  to  give  for  such 
parts  of  the  crew  as  shall  appear  to  be  combatants,  and  on 
4hat  principle  must  be  ex«liangod. 

,  v'     (Signed)  y^;*iijjj\,._^^^  E.  COOKE.^ 

■>*  V...  -■.,    ,,;,;,  .   r";,4>^;i{»"<iWili;:t:^K.^^  .4^ 

'        <  '  "       '  ■*  Oclober  29,  1812;-  ' 

Mr.  Beaf:l«»y  states  to  3.  W.  Croker  of  the  admiralty 
Office,  that  lord  Castlereagh  had  referred  him  to  llre^, 
commissioners  for  prisoners  of  war ;  that  he  iiad  accord-* 
ingly  applied  to  them  and  learnt  that  the,  iustructious  which 
that  board  had  received  from  tiie  lords  of  the  admiraltyf;- 
were  not  sufficiently  explicit  to  enable  them  to  proceed 
in  the  matter.  Mr.  Beaeley  reauests  that  their  lojftl&hipg 
would  be  pleased  to  give  such  further  directions  to  tile 
fransport  board  as  might  be  found  necessary^ 


./ 


^  ,  V-'   _^    •  :     October  30,  1812v 

John  Barrow,  of  the  admiralty  office,  informs  RTrt 


•\ 


,:...^/' 


£., 


''tit. 


i 

t 

I 

V 


m 


. 

n  1; 

/,' 

1 

X 


^ 


# 


m 


BARBARITIES  01- 


IJeHslcy,  tltat  his  ItUter  of  the  2fllh  Octoho-  had  bccolRiil 
beloie  the  lords  coinmirsioDers  of  the  achiinaUy,  and  that 
t)ic  bitsincss  Imd  beeo  referred  to  the  transport  board. 

October  2Q,  1812. 
]VIu.  Beasley  hifotrriB  Akxander  M'Leay  of  the  trans- 
pert  office,  that  he  had  re(iue9ted  the  lords  of  the  admi- 
raUy  would  be  pleased  to  give  the  further  instructions 
necessary,  aiKi  presuming  tliat  tiiese  instructioDs  would  be 
immediately  ji;iven,  requests  Mr.  M'L  y  to  inform  liiai 
at  uiiat  finie  it  will  be  convenient  for  the  commission- 
ers that  he  should  confer  with  them  on  the  subject.    . 


"^.•»" 


October  30,  1812. 
Alexander  M'Leay  informs  Mr.  Beasley  that  he  is  dfi- 
vet'ted  lO  dt&jre  that  Mr.  B.  would  transmit  to  tlie  traiis- 
pcrt  ofike  a  list  of  all  the  i>erfons  wlicm  Mr.  Beasley  pro- 
poted  to  send  to  America,  stating  their  several  qualities, 
and  when  and  how  they  respectively  came  into  Great 
Britain. 

1^  November  2,  1812. 

'^'•'Mr.  Beasley  transmits  to  Alexander  M'Leay,  of  tl.e 
transport  eiffice,  a  list  of  American  citizens  whem  itisprc- 
poted  to  send  to  the  United  States  in  the  Eirip  "Williara 
:;j(l  Eliza,  stating  their  several  qualities,  and  when  and 
liow  they  respectively  came  into  Ci'eat  Biitain.  This 
list  contains  one  hundred  and  ten  names.  To  these 
•are  added  a  list  of  six  perrons,  being  other  paftenjiers  in 
the  same  vesiel.  Mr.  Beasley  remarks  to  Mr.  M'-Leay, 
*^I  am  well  informed  that  many  persons  of  the  doscinp- 
f  m  and  under  the  ciicnmstances  of  those  mentioned  in 
iht  first -of  Uiese  lints  (being  seamen)  who  were  awaiting 
the  r^ttU  of  my  late  application  to  lord  Castlereagh  for 
«  cartel  for  their  corveyance  to  Anr.enca,  hSTe  within  a 
fr.'w  dsys  past  been  f-eized  by  the  in)preFs  offieei-s  and  tak- 
«£  on  hoard  the  tender  ci  the  tower  ;  and  1  beg  to  know 
whai  are  tl»e  -intentions  of  the  Biitish  fiovciLmcnt  respectr 
ins; them?"  ..  ...^.;- ^ . 


:''34*N^lV*:  -' '  r-'i^wv, .  ^^-"'"^y- 


pjKiS^-     ^,««S.i'  iJS,.«fc_ ■"*•.>•  •■■■  >>■ 


,  vJ* 


_C     ■ 


^."^fv- 


.'Sli; 


>.*      ^ 


5) 


"ik 


■^ 


THE  ENEMY.     ^ 

'■% 

November  0,  1812. 

'  Alexander  M'Leay  informs  Mr.  Beafilty  that  he  had 
receive  and  laid  before  the  commiseionei'g  for  the  trans- 
port service  the  list  of  personu  proposed  to  he  i int  to  llic 
United  States  in  the  William  aud  Eliza  cartel,  ai-.d  adib» 
''  In  return  I  am  directed  to  re(|iie5t  that  you  will  iuform 
tlie  board  whether  you  will  enji;age  that  the  above  men- 
tioned persons  on  their  arrival  in  ihe  United  States  elnd I 
l«e  exchanged  for  an  equivalent  number  of  Briiic^h  sui>' 
jects,  who  may  have  fallen  into  the  bauds  of  tha  Ameii- 
eans.  I  am  at  the  same  time  to  acquaint  you,  that  th<s, 
prisoners  above  allu<led  to  must  sigti  engAgements  not  ton 
Herve  against  this  country  or  its  alUes  until  regularly  ex«n 


»t 


vt,. 


M« 


November  7,  iai2^ 


<t 


Mr.  Beasl'y  writes  to  Alexander  ]\tl'rntt,  ^  <>  v>  ^ 
I  have  to  inform  the  board  tlwt  I  am  w  .dug  to  en* 
gage  that  the  American  citizens  whom  I  propose  to  send 
to  the  United  States  on  board  the  William  and  Eliza  car- 
tel, shall,  on  their  arrivnl  there,  be  exclianfjed  for  an 
equivalent  juumber  of  Briti^li  subjects  of  the  same  dtttiapn*? 
4ion,  who  may  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  under  fimilar  circumstances;  and  that  the  men 
themselves  shall  ^i;;n  engagements  for  the  pcfrformance  of 
any  conditions  eimilar  to  those  which  may  have  been  cx- 
jiciedofsuch  liicUsIji  subjects  in  the  Uidted  States;  itbe**^ 
ing  unders  ood,  that  if  it  be  found  that  British  subjects,  under 
any  such  circumstances,  have  been  suflTcred  frtely  to  depart 
from  the  United  Staler,  then  ihetie  engagements,  so  far  as  re- 
gards the  corresponding  class  of  American  citizens,  shall  he 
void.  If,  liowever,  it  be  more  satisfactory  to  the  boord,  that 
the  return  or  exchange  of  these  men  should  be  regulated  by  : 
the  principles  recognized  by  the  two  governments  in  the 
cartel,  which  I  am  informed,  has  been  lately  concluded  at 
Washington,  I  am  ready  to  enter  into  an  engagement  to 

that  effect."'    '^^^^nr"  1H'-<>::  t:im*-^'i^i:i:}'i-':?'-hf^'i^  .  ,-T^^^^ 

.   .V  Novemher  13^1^1%  -<■ 

<■:'       Alcxamler  M'^Leatf  rvi^iics  to  Mr.  Beaslev. 
**  I  am  dhecled  to  acquaint  yott  that  tlie  prisoners  ni€n- 


»»i 


,fi» 


I*'"'' 


'J 


^  BARBAKITIES  OF 

tiooed  in  the  list  transmilttd  by  jou  will  be  released,  up. 
oa  your  entering  iulo  an  wncondilional  engagement  tlial 
they  shall  be  exchanged  for  British  priscBeis  now  in  Amci^ 
ica  or  who  may  be  hereafter  taken."    xv  ;  • ; 

^.^^vL:^    ......  Novcnef^r  1Q,  nU'.    ,^ 

n-M  ]Ur.  Beasky  writes  U  Alexander  M'Leai/. 
**  For  those  American  citizens  who  ccmpoeed  ihecrelvs 
«f  ships  taken  m  war,  1  am  at  all  times  ready  to  enter  in- 
to any  engagement  which  the  law  and  usage  of  nations  re- 
quire. But  from  those  whom  ycur  laws  have  iuvi(i;«1,  or 
whom  misfortune  has  thrown  into  your  country  ;  whora 
^1^  '  accident,  and  not  the  fortune  of  war,  has  placed    within 

your  power,  I  must  still  urge  my  reqneet,  tkat  they  be  zY- 
lowed  to  depart  the  kingdom  oj  the  condi'ions  propcred 
in  my  letter  of  the  7th  inst."  But  "  if  the  board  will  cu- 
ter into  an  unconditional  engaoement,  ihat  all  British  &ub- 
jectG  who  have  been  permitted  to  kavs  ifie  United  States 
since  the  declaration  of  w?./,  or  w  ho  may  be  pernlit^ed  {o  ; 
depart  therefrom,  shall  be  exiiianged  for  Ani<  rican  prii,'- 
oners  of  war,  I  will  in  like  maimer  engage  for  thosfe  Amrr- 
ican  citizens  agreeably  to  your  letter."  Mr.  Beasley 
adds — "  This  arrangement,  however,  I  would  make  wjh* 
great  reluctance;  becaupe  it  would  oot  be  in  unison  wi'lx 
that  spirit  of  liberal  w arlare  entritairif.d  by  the  govf  i r- 
Dient  of  the  United  Stales,  and  became  it  would  biing 
within  the  influence  of  the  war  those  who  might,  witiuj;! 
detriment  to  either  paity,  be  exempt  Ircm  its  Opr. ratios'.' 

Novctnher  23,  i812. 
Beaslcy  writes  to  Mr.  HanAUojf,  of  the  Foreign  Office. 
"  I  must  beg  leave  to  state,  that  tiiat  part  of  my  note  of 
the  12th  tiltimo,  addressed  to  lord  Ca&tlereajih,  relative  to 
American  'jitizens  who  have  been  impressed  and  arc  now 
held  in  hir*  majesty's  naval  service,  remains  unanswered.  To 
the  reasons  already  urged  for  the  discharge  of  those  men, 
may  be  added  that  of  compelling  them  to  fight  against  their 
co^iutry  ;  snd  I  need  scarcply  add,  ihat  as  tlxy  were  for- 
cibly detained  before  the  con  mcncfmeiit  cf  hcstilitics  it 
wouid  be  very  unjust  to  discharge  them  merely   to  n.ake 
tiiem  prisoners.    Of  the  minber  of  these  unfoi tuLate  f  r r 


w 


■   .'■.''"i:      V    ■ 


THE  EITESrr. 


'■si ' 


>  :l 


a 


sons,  rii:iQ7  mast  be  in  veEsels  on  foreign  statimis  at 
great  distance.  It  is  a  subject  of  much  public  interest  in 
the  United  States,  and  one  which  involves  the  domestic 
comlort  and  liappiue&s  6i  many  familiei .'* 


Nmmher  24,1812. 
Alexander  M*Leay  writes  to  Mr,  Beasley^  and  after  stnntp^ 
preliminary  reasonings  says ;  r.;,    v^c 

"  The  commissioners  (of  the  transport  office)  are  in^t 
structed  (by  the  lords  commissioners  of  the  ridroiralty)  to^^ 
continue  to  require  from  you  an  unconditional  receipt,  as 
prisoners  of  war,  for  all  persons  of  this  description,  previ*v»r 
ous  to  their  being  permitted  to  retui>o  to  America." 

*^  December  22,  \^\2,     ^ 

Alexander  M^Leay  writes  to  Mr.  Beasley, 
**I  have  received  and  laid  before  the  commissioners  for 
the  transport  service,  &c.  your  let^u-  of  the  1 5th  inst.  and 
in  return  am  directed  to  acquaiiU  you,  that  at  present  tb'jy 
are  only  autbotized  to  deMver  up  to  you  the  Americans 
mentioned  io  the  list  transmitted  by  you  on  the  3d  of 
November."  > 

•fi  Decw*«-24,  1812.    vV 

•^'  Mr.  BeasUy  writes  i^  Alexander  M^Jjeay.  -^ 

*<  After  80  long  a  time  spent  in  diboi^sing  the  principles 
and  conditions  «/  an  exchange  of  prisonem  between  the 
United  States  and  ti.  Britain,  I  perceive  with  some  sur* 
prise,  by  your  letter  of  yesterday,  that  the  only  persons 
whom  tl  e  board  are  authorized  to  delrver  up  to  me,  are 
those  mentioned  in  the  list  transmitted  to  you  on  the  3d 
November,  who,  though  so  long  known  to  th^.  board  as 
being  at  lai^  in  this  t\tj,  have  never  beei>  detained  as 
piisoners ;  and  '^ho  have,  ever  since  their  arrival,  been 
maintained  at  the  <:harge  of  the  Unitied  States.  During 
this  interval,  those  persons  have  been  partially  dispersed  $•: 
some  have  been  taken  up  as  prisoners ;  some  have  been 
impressed ;  and  ^ ome  have  othexwise  disappeared.  Others, 
horweVer,  under  similar  circumstances,  have  tince  been 
adilcd ;  and  there  cow  remain  about  otte  hundred  persons* 
Of  tiiese  mou,  as  I  understand  the  tenor  of  cur  correg- 


'f  •■ 


f4 


it  ' 


fvjf-. 


u 


BARBARITIES  OF 


'•V5^' 


l^ 


:^f!. 


poDdence,  those  who  belonged  to  vessels  detained  or  tak- 
en in  var,  are  to  be  suikred  to  proceed  to  the  U.  States, 
on  017  enteribg  into  the  engagement  nvhlch  accompanied 
your  letter  of  the  1 4th  inst.  but  that  for  the  others  no  en- 
gagement is  required.  In  order  to  avoid  any  further  mis- 
understanding, I  beg  to  know  whether  this  recapitulatioQ 
is  correct.'*  _ 

Alexander  H/tLeay  to  R.  Q.  BeaeUy. 

Transport  Office,  2Qth  Dec,  1812. 
Sib — I  have  received  and  laid  before  the  commission- 
ers for  the  transport  service^  &c.  your  letter  of  the  24th 
inst.  and  in  return,  I  am  directed  to  acquaint  you  that  it  is 
the  intention  of  his  majesty's  government  that  such  of  the 
Americans,  named  in  the  list  which  accompanied  your 
letter  of  the  3d  of  last  month,  as  belonged  to  vessels 
detained  or  taken,  and  as  are  consequently  prison- 
ers of  war,  shall  be  suffered,  to  proceed  to  the  United 
States  upon  your  entering  into  the  engagement  which  ac- 
companied my  letter  of  the  14th  inst.  but  that  for  Ameri- 
cans who  were  resident  or  travelling  in  this  cctuntry,  or 
resorting  hither  for  commercial  purposes,  not  ati  mariners, 
no  such  engagement  will  be  required.  *  =.* 

I  am,  &c. 
(Signed)  ALEX.  M'LEAY. 

December  28,  1812, 
Mr,  Beaaleif  writes  to  Alexander  M'-Leay, 
"  Cn  referring  to  that  iist  (which  accompanied  my  letter 
ef  the  3d  ult.)  you  will  perceive  another  class  of  persons, 
Bamely,  mariners  who  did  not  belong  to  vessels  detained 
or  taken ;  and  as  your  omitting  to  notice  the ie  men  in  your 
letter  might  leave  room  for  some  doubt  respecting  them, 
I  lose  no  time  in  requesting  to  be  ihforroed  on  what  terms 
the  be  understand  that  they  are  to  be  suffered  to  i%* 
turn  to  tl:.^  U.  States."  - 


Deotmber  29,  1812. 
Alexander  M*L^^  mites  to  Mr.  BeaaUy  : 
*•  By  a  reference  to  nrty  letter  of  the  26th'  instant,  you 
•will  observe  that  mariners  are  expressly   excepted   frcm 
tli€  <!escri^tiva  of  persooB  who  are  iO/^  rckft&ed  uucofi- 


,■  f)'    ■'■ 


''''"''■  "■'■*   '"^IfS^THlf 'enemy.' 


•!*'-i*:': 


55 


f  ditlonally,  und  consequently  it  is  necessary  you  should 
igive  a  receipt  for  all  the  maiiners  named  in  ths  list  trans* 
mitted  by  you.'* 


'  Fehruary  17,  1813. 

Mr,  Bcasl^  to  Alexander  Tn^^Leay. 
"  In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  0th  inst.  communicating 
the  result  of  enquiiies  made  by  order  of  the  lords   com- 
missioners of  thp  »dn:iralty,  relative  to  the  alledged  ill  treat- 
ment of  certain  seamen  claiming  to  be  Americans,  in  the 
British  service,  in  consequence  of  their  having  requested 
to  be  considered  as  prisoners  of  w:ar,  as  represented  in  my 
letter  to  lord  Castlere^gh  of  the  12th.  Oct.  I  have  to  ob- 
serve that  although  the  statement  of  those  persons  and  that 
contained  in  your  letter  difler  greatly  as  tothe  degree  of 
this  ill  treatment,  it  does  appear  that  some  severity  was 
exercised  towards  them  on  that  occasion,  and  without  any 
proper  investigation  of  their  claim  of  American  citizenship, 
which,  if  establised,  should  have  exempted  them,  not  only 
from  punishment  but  from  service.     As  it  may  be  inferr- 
ed, however,  from  your  letter,  that  if  proof  be  produced 
to  support  their  claim  their  request  will  yet  be  complied 
with,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  evidepre  to  that  effect 
was  long  since  tram  mitted  to  the  lordE      (he  admiralty  in 
behalf  of  several  of  these  persons.**    [Here  follo'^  s  the 
names  of  persons  and  a  recitation  of  the  proof  of  citizen- 
ship, &c.]  Mr.  Beasley  proceeds,  "  I  cannot  avoid  ex- 
pressing my  disappointment  and  regret  that  no  notice  has 
been  taken  uf  the  request  hiade  to  lord  Castlereagh  in  my 
letter  of  the  12th  of  Oct.  for  the  general  release  of  Ihe 
American  seamen  detpined  in  the  British  service.'* 


•A- 


Alexander  M^Leay  to  R.  6.  Beasley, 
.(j--  '  Transport  Office,  2Qth  February ^  1813. 

*^  Sib — I  have  received  and  laid  before  the  commission^ 
ers  for  the  transport  service,  &c.  your  letter  of  the  1 7ih 
of  this  month,  with  its  enclosure,  relative  to  the  alledged 
ill  treatment  of  certain  seamen  claiming  to  be  Americans, 
in  the  British  service,  in  consequence  of  their  having  re- 
quested to  be  considered  as  prisoners  of  war ;  and  the 
same  hftviDg  been  referred  to  the  right  honorable  the  lords 


■-;%.( 


■•,/ 


:a0: 


56 


BARBARITIES  OF 


coromisstoriers  of  the  admiralty,  I  am  directed  bj  the 
tward  to  transmit  to  you  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter 
which  they  have  received  from  their  lordships*  secratary 
in  aoswer  thereto.  . 

I  am,  &c. 


(Signed) 


ALEX.  M'LEAY. 


John  Barrow  to  the  Tranmort  Board, 

JdminUt^  Ofice,  25th  February,  1813. 

Genllemeo---haviDg  laid  before  my  lords  commissioners 
of  the  admiralty  your  letter  of  the  18th  lost,  ioclosiog  the 
copy  of  a  letter,  together  Mith  the  documeots  thk'eui 
referred  to,  from  Mr.  Beasley,  ^  American  a^nt  for 
prisoners  of  war  in  this  couatry,  on  the  subject  of  certain 
alleged  citizens  of  the  United  States  detained  in  his  ma- 
jesty's service,  I  have  it  in  command  to  signify  their  loord- 
fthips'  directions  to  you  to  aoquaiot  Mr.  iteasley,  that  nci* 
tiber  now  in  war,  nor  before,  during  peace,  is,  or  was,  the 
i3ritisb  government  desirous  of  having  Americas  sea- 
oen  ife  its  service,  and  that  their  lordships  will  now  dis- 
chai^  as  prisomrs  of  war,  as  they  formerly  did  as  neiti^ 
trals,  those  persons  wlio  can  adduce  any  suiicient  pi>oof 
of  their  being  Americans. 

You  wiU  further  inlbrm  Mr.  Beasley,  that  all  the  cases 
stated  by  him  have  received  or  are  under  accurate  exam- 
ination, and  that.  Mch  persons  who  may  appear  to  be 
Americans  wiU  be  immeiiiatdy  sent  to  prison,  as  many 
iave  bees  already. 

I  am,  &c. 
(Si^EKd)  Jt)HN  BARROW,    v 

Jlexamkr  M^Lee^  to  Mr.  Beasley, 

Transport  OJice,  %tk  March,  1813. 
SiR-^I  ttm  directed  by  the  commhisioners  for  the  trans- 
•port  service,  &g.  to  infcHrro  you,  that  upon  the  re<%ipt  of 
the  printed  letters  which  were  transmittf  d  by  you  to  this 
oliice.;  for  the  purpose  of  Ir-^vg  forwarded  to  certain  eea- 
meo  <m  board  of  his  majet  » 's  ships  of  war,  tl  y  consid- 
er it  their  duty  to  submit  ttie  same  (o  the  consideration  of 
the  r%ht  honorable  the  lords  commissioners  c'  the  admi- 
ralty, and  to  request  tlieir  lovdshipK'  direc^ug  w  thesttl>- 


'■A\ 


THE  ENEMY. 


5-7 


t 


^ct ;  ami  the  bor.r<l  having,  this  day,  a  letter  frcm  (heir 
onlbhips'  gecielary,  cf  which  the  eiicloecd  is  a  crpy,  I 
have  their  <li  recti  on  to  acquaint  you  accordingly,  that  the 
letters  in  quetstion  will  not  be  Ibnvarded,  and  that  you 
cannot  be  permitted  to  njaintain  any  corrtf  pondtiice  vilh 
(he  eeamiju  on  board  of  his  msjestys  fle€4.  *:;  v'^  vx 
■    c.    ■■■  ■  I  am,  &c.       :"^"*    ^""■"  '  "'^ 

jgigned)    ;,/;-^f;f^'^-'^'  ALEX.  M'LEAY. 


John  Barrow  to  the  Transpcrt  Beard,  ^^-f^^ 
>  \  Admiralty  Office,  5lh  March,  1^12. ''] 
Gentlemen--In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  16th  of 
last  montli  enclosing  a  letter  addressed  by  Mr.  Beasley  t« 
a  seaman  on  board  his  nnnjf  sJy's  ship  Porcupine,  and  rei» 
questing  to  be  informed  if  letters  of  a  similar  description 
should  be  forwarded  to  Ihe  persons  to  whom  they  are  ad- 
diessed,  I  am  commanded  by  my  lords  ccmniiEsicners  of 
the  admiralty,  to  signify  their  direcicn  to  you  net  to  foR- 
ward  iany  such  letters,  and  to  acquaint  Mr.  Beasley  that 
he  cannot  be  permitted  to  maintain  any  correspondence 
with  the  seamen  ta  board  \\h  majcsiy's  fiect ;  observing  to 
him,  at  the  same  time,  that  \he  printed  letter  in  questictt 
contains  a  statement  unfounded  in  fact,  for  thst  neither 
since  the  war,  with  Amerki?,  nor  before,  have  their  lord- 
ships declined  to  release  American  seamen,  admitted  Or 
proved  to  be  sucfc,  thoi!»l>  tljey  have  and  still  do  refuse  to 
release  persons  aftuniirg,  without  any  proof  or  document, 
that  character. 

.  ■'■;•-;•>?•■,  5-v:,v.,  ^  '   -r  :'*'-■  I  am,  (fee.     ^^^^'^-^^ 
■      (Signed)       ;  *y-^  f-  ^v  ...^  JNO.  BARROW.    ; 

Copy  of  the  printrd  circular  Utter  addressed  to  American 

seamen  in  British  i.hips  of  war.  #%h*t,*a;t 

'■-  '•'■■^  If'  .;^  :r^n:n^.r'^'*"f^'^^'^     London,  ^^'-*'^-.'>"    1813.  ' 'y 
In  answer  io  your  letter  of  the  I  have  to  inform 

you,  that  the  lord*  ccirmusionersof  the  admiralty  havii;g-, 
inconsequence  of  the  Avar  between  tie  United  Stales  and 
Great  Britain,  declined  to  release  thcFe  American  citizens 
who  have  been  impressed  and  are  held  in  the  British  ser- 
vice, there  appears  to  be  no  o'l;rr  crurse  fcr  yru  to  prx- 


li'ii 


m 


ih 


) 


)„ 


I 

\ 


.*■- 


0:  ,    BARBAIIITIE€' or 

eue  than  to  give  youi'feelf  up  as  a  prisocer  of  ivar  lo  iht 
commander  of  the  &hip  in  which  you  are  detained. 

J  Agent  of  the  United  States  for  prLscncrs 

fni#  >•  :di"'"^    of  war  in  Great  nriiain. 

Extracts  of  a  letter  frcm  Mr.  Bcasley  to  Jlcxandi^r 

M'l^eM^i tlated  13th  March,  1B}3. 
Af'.    "  lu  the  letter  of  their  lojrdships'  eecretary  of  the  5th. 
instant,  the  board  are  directed  to  obfe«'vc  tq  ipe,  that  the 
printed  letter  which  I  addressed  to  certain  American  E£a- 
iiien  detained  in  the  British  navy,  "  contains  a  statement 
unfovnded  in  fact :    for  that  neither  since  the  -war  with^ 
America,  nor  before,  have  their  lordships  dec^ned  to  rc- 
kase  American  seamen  admitted  or  pr«vcd  to   be  such/' 
It  is  not  neccssaiy  to  my  present  purpcte  to  enter  upon 
Bu  examination  of  their  lorJEhips'  ctmiuct  en.  tljSs  matt^' 
before  the  war ;  although  my  own  official  observ  ation,  in 
Bumerous  cases,  when  I  held  the  office  of  consul,  would 
authorize  mc  to  dispute  even  that  part  of  their  secretary's 
assertion.     But  with  refTerencc  to  their  lordships'  conduct 
since  the  war,  I  beg  to  remind  them  of  their  tetter  of  the 
.'   5tli  August,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  in 
answer  to  a  request  made  on  the  31st  July  for  the  release 
of  certain  impressed  American  seamen,  in  which  their  lorcl- 
slnps,  going  beyond  the  mere  declining  to  release  the  nier»» 
stated,    '*  that  under  the  present  circumstances,  they  wiU 
"defer  the  consideration  of  the  request  for  their  release  ;'* 
or,  in  other  words,  that  they  will  not  at  present,  w  ar  be- 
ins:  commenced,  even  think  on  the  subject  of  their  release. 
If  further  proof  be  necessary  of  their  lordships'  having,  a-s 
I  stated  in  my  printed  letter,  declined  the  release  of  such 
seamen  in  consequence  of  the  w  ar,  I  will  call  to  their  re- 
collection a  letter  written  by  their  secretary,  on  the  25th 
"  August,  in  answer  to  an  application  for  the  release  of  Willl- 
"^  'am  Wilson,  an  impressed  American  detained  on  board  the 
"'    Cordelia,  in  which  they  state  that  this  man  being  an  ali- 
'"  en  enemy  must  continue  to  serve  or  go  to  prison.  Should 
other  corroboration  be  wanted,  it  may  be  found  in  the  long 
■■  and  marked  silence  of  the  Britsh  government  to  my  nu- 
merous applications,  pgain  and  again  repeated,  for  the  re- 


ts 


fk. 


■»  THE  ENEMY. 


59 


hasu  oi'  these  tnea;  seeing  that  it  was  not  until  the  25th 
of  Febniaiy,  nearly  seven  months  after  their  lordships  had 
informed  me  of  their  having  deferred  the  consideration  of 
the  subject,  and  nearly  five  months  after  my  formal  de- 
mand made  to  lord  Castlereagh,  that  they  directed  the 
board  to  inform  me  of  their  intention  to  treat  them  as  pris« 
oiicrs  of  war — and  even  this  was  not  done  until  eight  days 
after  my  printed  letter  in  question  appears  to  have  been 
on  their  table.  Surely  it  was  in  utter  forgetfulness  of  all 
t)iiose  circumstances  that  their  lordships  declared  my  state- 
!neut  unfounded  in  fact ;  for  it  appears  inpossiUe  that  they 
oaif,  in  the  mind  of  any  person,  bear  a  different  interpret 
tnilcn  from  that  which  I  have  given  them.  But  Iiow  do 
these  facts  bear  on  their  lordshi}}8'  statement  ?  How,  I  ask, 
docs  tlicir  determination,  that  Wilson, /^ot^ef/an</  admitted 
to  be  an  American^  tmtst  continue  to  serve  or  go  to  prisott, 
support  tlie  assertion  that  their  lordships  have  not  declined 
ta  release  American  seatnen  admitted  or  proved  to  be  such  ? 
But  perhaps  in  their  lordships'  view,  to  send  them  from  ser- 
vice and  detention  in  ships  of  war  to  confinement  in  pris- 
ons, is  to  release  them.  If  so,  it  is  unnecessary  to  pursue 
the  subject  further,  and  I  will  content  myself  with  havii^ 
Yindicflted  the  correctness  of  my  own  statement." 

'  "  I  come  now  to  the  consideration  of  their  lordships*  pur- 
pose, as  <)xpressed  in  their  secretary's  letter  of  the  25;ii 
ultimo,  to  treat  as  pnsoners  of  war  the  American  seamea 
who  have  been  impressed  and  are  held  in  the  British  serviee. 
'i'nkiiig  into  viefr  the  nmnjier  in  which  these  unfortunate  per^ 
fcons  came  into  the  power  of  the  British  government,that  their 
own  rl,s;hts  and  inclinations,  the  rightsoftbdr  Countiy,  the 

law  of  nations,  and  every  principle  of  justice  were  violal^ 
in  the  very  act  by  which  each  of  theae  men  was  bfon^ 
within  its  power,  and  that  this  wrong  accumulates  ao  lebg 
as  any  of  them  remain  in  its  power,  I  do  mainlain  thtt 
they  are  on  cveiy  ground  entitled  to,  and  the  British  gov- 
ermneut  is  bound,  to  grant  their  immediate  and  complete 
release.  It  acquired  them  only  as  the  spoils  of  unlawful 
violence ;  hoAv  then  can  it  retain  them  as  the  fruits  of  law- 
ful wnr  ?  Its  right  of  cootroul  over  them  can  onily  ariae 
i'roni  the  lawfulness  of  their  detention ;  but  tliat  whici»  w«8 
unlawfully  takcQ  cauoot  be  rightfully  h.eid,.«nd.toft^ 


P 


h 


^0 


ARBARITIES  OK 


kaou'lcdgethn  pretension  to  such  coiitroul  as  their  lorilbhipti* 
purpose  implies,  avouM  be  to  legitimatize  thfi  act  by  v.hich 
they  came  into.tiieir  power.  The  Britit;li  govcnjmcnt  dis- 
claims all  rig}it  and  ail  intention  to  take  them,  and  this  di^' 
avowal  \b  an  acknowledgement  ^f  its  obligation  to  restore 
fheDi  to  the  same  coTiditioii,  and  to  the  sanie  IVecdoty  from 
which  they  were  taken.  Upon  what  ground  is  it,  then, 
that  they  are  to  be  treated  as  prisoners  of  war  ?  Not  ma- 
ny years  have  elapse!  since  aii  Eurvipe  resounded  with  the 
complaints  of  Oic'it  Britain  against  France  for  dct)».jnii5g 
as  prisoners  of  war  certain  British  Bubjectswho,  having 
entered  tbe  French  territories  in  time  of  peace,  were  foufid 
there  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Avar.  But  if  that  were  rc- 
j^arded  iu  England  as  an  outrage,  Vthat  will  be  thought  of 
this  detention,  as  prisoners  of  war,  of  American  seamen, 
■who,  having  been  wron,'2:fully  taken  on  the  high  seas  and 
dforcibly  carried  into  the  Briiitni  serA  ice  iu  time  cf  peace, 
are  found  therein  at  the  breaking  cut  of  a  war  doing  her 
service  and  fighting  her  battles  ?  The  conduct  of  France 
■was  attempted  to  be-justilied  by  certain  acts  of  England, 
■which  "Were  alleged  to  be  equally  contrary  to  the  law  of 
DatiOBS.  But  what  justification,  what  excuse,  can  beset  up 
for  this  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towards  the  impreesea 
American  seamen  ?  What  infraction  of  the  law  of  nations, 
what  violence  or  injustice  exercised  towards  British  sub- 
jects, or  what  outrage  is  this  cruel  act  to  retaliate  ?  It 
«annot  be  the  free  and  ?pontaneous  [)ermiEsion  given  by 
(he  United  States,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  for 
every  British  subject,  of  every  class  and  description,  found 
■within  tlieir  territories  or  iu  their  power  to  return  to  his 
country,  that  this  imprisonment  of  American  seamen  is  to 
^tieUUite.  And  surely  this  cannot  be  the  indemnification 
'll^ich  Gi-eat  Britain  offers  these  unfortunate  men  for  the 
^rroDgs  which  she  has  inflicted  on  them,  or  the  reward 
•which  she  bestows  for  the  service  she  has  received  at  their 
hands. 

"  To  the  unqualified  proiiibitien  ©f  all  corrc£poiid(  nee 
ibetween  myself  and  the  impressed  American  seamen  in  his 
Britannic  majestjv's  fleet,  so  unreservedly  stated  in  the  let- 
ter of  their  lordsnips*  secretary  of  the  6th  instant,  I  must 
tiWfor^mwbftteyef  may  be  my  sentimente  and  feelings  res- 


^ 


tn»  ENE»fr. 


ei 


Reeling  It.  llie  Bitaation  ia  which  these  unfortunate  men 
and  myself  stood  towards  each  other,  appeared  not  only 
to  invite,  but  to  authorize  a  communication  between  us. 
On  their  part  the  object  of  this  correspondence  was  to 
t)btain  information  and  counsel  as'^to  the  proper  manner  of 
conducting  themselves  under  circumstances  the  most  dif- 
ficult, and  on  an  occasion  the  most  important  and  solemn, 
namely,  how  to  act  while  forcibly  held  to  seiVice  in  ships 
of  war  belonging  to  a  state  engaged  in  actual  hostilities  a- 
gainst  their  country ;  a  situation  which  their  own  good 
sense  and  proper  feelings  taueht  them  was  alike  iucompat^ 
ible  with  their  rights  and  their  duties  My  part  has  been, 
after  having  waited  five  months  in  vaiji  for  a  communica- 
tion of  their  lordships^  intentions^  to  recommend  them,  since 
there  appeared  no  means  of  obtaining  their  release,  to  give 
themselves  up  as  prisoners  of  war ;  an  evil  comparative- 
ly light  to  t^at  which  they  suflfer.  In  other  instances  their 
letters  have  related  the  rejection  of  their  offer  and  the 
threats  of  punishment,  and  all  contain  complaints  of  the 
unexampled  hardship  of  their  situation.'^ 

Extract  of  a  {etter  from  Robert  Montgomery^  consul  rf 
the  United  States  at  Alieant,  dated  the  Ath  qf  Novem- 
bery  1912,  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  j 

"  Herewith  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Admiral  Hallowell 
with  his  reply.  The  man  in  question  has  declared  under 
oath  that  he  never  signed  any  article  or  agreement  what- 
ever to  serve  6n  board  the  Indefatigable,  nor  any  other 
British  vessel,  and  he  has  ooVr  left  her,  losing  what  wages 
was  due  hiiih'* 


:  I 

'i    ' 


M^l 


mm 

4' ' 


Alkant,  2Qd Octobefi 'i^^2*  '■ 
Sm-^PUlips,  a  mariner  and  citizen  of  the  ITnited  States, 
as  appeari  by  a  regular  protectiou  Irom  the  collector  of 
New- York,  informs  me  that  some  time  since  he  engaged 
himself  on  board  the  transport  Indefatigable  for  six  months 
at  certain  wages  agreed  for  ;  that  he  has  now  beeu  eight 
months  in  said  vessel,  and  demands  his  discharge  and  wa- 
ges, but  the  master  having  refused  both,  obliges  me  te 
I'^est  yott  win  infoim  yourself  of  the  fkct,  and  if,  as  the 


-•1  :.'.'•  ; 


•■•  .»■./•,■ 


■K  f■:'■ 


f  '.  .t 


i     i 


62 


■  ><■ 

V  - 


,•-   :i.'        .i 


BARBARITIES  OF 


mariner  states,  order  him  to  be  paid  of  and  dibcliatgedk 

Permit  me  to  assure  you,  &c. 
(Signed)  ROBT.  MONTGOMERY* 

Benjamin  Hallowell,  esq.  Admiral,  royal  navy  of  Great 
Britain^ 


Admiral  Hallowell,  to  Mr.  Montgomery, 

His  majisty^s  ship  Malta  in  Alicant  Bay^ 

2Qtk  October,  1812. 
Sir — I' find  upon  enquiry  that  there  is  on  board  the  In- ; 
defatigable  transport  the  man  mentioned  in  your  letter  ot : 
the  23d.    As  there  is  no  objection  to  a  foreigner  going  in  .* 
the  station  of  mariner  on  board  a  vessel  of  that  descriptioni 
and  as  he  has  signed  articles  of  agreement  to  serve  oq  . 
board  the  Indefatigable,  I  shaH  not  molest  him  while  he ,' 
continues  in  her  $  but  the  moment  he  gets  his  i^ischarge  I 
shall  deem  it  my  duty  to  take  hold  of  him,  and  put  him  ia  , 
wnfinement  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  Bn.  HALLOWELL. 


'<« 


No.  IV. 


;.f,« 


COMPULSORY    SERVICE    OF     IMPRESSED    AMERICANS    9V 
BOARD  BRITISH  SHIPS  OF  WAR.  ;.  J  :> 

I,  Beekman  V'er  Plank  Hoflfman,  of  the  town  of  Pougli- 
keepsie,  do  certify,  that  I  am  a  lieutenant  in  the  United 
States*  navy  ;  that  I  was  a  lieutenant  on  board  of  the  Con- 
stitution frigate  in  the  action  and  capture  of  the  Guerri* 
ere  ;  that  after  her  surrender  I  was  sent  on  board,  and  af- 
ter taking  out  the  crew  fired  and  blew  up  the  ship ;  that 
eight  impressed  American  seamen  were  among  the  crew 
of  the  Guerriere  who  were  liberated  at  Boston.  I  was 
also  on  board  the  Constitution  in  the  action  and  caphire 
of  the  Java,  and  was  sent  on  board  that  vessel,  and  after 
the  crew  were  removed,  set  her  on  fire  and  blew  her  up. 
Amongst  the  crew  of  the  Java  thirteen  impressed  Ameri- 
ciJki  seamen  were  found,  three  of  whom  had  entered  the 


■;,'•■;".'  .■   -'f^.'^]  'V 


/  ■ 


.  <".  •  ■< 


...  I  > 


•f^'.- 


/'  (. 


THE  ENEMY. 


British  service  aod  were  left,  ttie  other  ten  were  Uberatr 
ed  a8  Americaos, 

B.  V.  HOFFMAN* 
.    Dated  Poughkeepsie,  April  16,  1813. 


DUTCHESS  COUNTY,  S8. 

Richard  Thompson,  being  sworn,  saith  that  he  is  a  na- 
tive of  New  Palta;,  opposite  Poughkeepsie,  that  he  sailed 
from  WiimingtoQ  about  the  281h  of  April,  1810,  on  board 
brig  Warren,  William  Killy  japtain,   for  Cork.     On  the 
homeward  passage  in  Sept^jiiber  following,  he  was  impress- 
ed and  taken  on  board  th<i  P:eacock,  9.  British  sloop  ot  war, 
and  compelled  to  do  d'  .ty.  That  while  on  board  that  ves- 
sel he  made  manjr  unf  jccessful  attempts  to  write  t6  his 
friends,  to  inform  then  of  his  situation.    U6  further  saith 
that  after  be  had  heard  of  the  war,  hiiii^elf  and  two  other 
impressed  American  seamen  who  were  on  board  the  Pea-  ■ 
cock  went  aft  to  the  captain  and  claimed  to  be  considered 
as  American  prisoners  of  war,  and  refused  to  do  duty  any 
longer.     They  were  ordered  off  the  quarter  deck,  aod*^ 
the  captaia  called  for  the  master  at  arms,  and  ordered  us 
to  be  put  in  irons  ;  we  were  then  kept  in  irqns  about  24  ■■■ 
hours,  when  we  were  takcd  out,  brought  to  the  gang-way,  *= 
stripped  of  our  clothes,  tkd  and  nhippcd^  each  one  dozen 
and  a  half  lashes,  and  put  to  duty. 

He  fuilher  saith  that  he  was  kept  on  board  the  Pea- 
cock, and  did  duty  till  the  action  with  the  Hornet ;  after 
the  Hornet  hoisted  American  colors  he  and  the  other  im-  . 
pressed  Americans  again  went  to  the  captain  of  the  Pea- 
cock, asked  to  be  sent  below,  said  it  was  aa  American  ship 
and  that  they  did  not  wish  to  liglit  against  their  country,  . 
The  captain  ordered  us  to  our  quarters;  called  midship- 
man Stone  to  do  his  duty ;  and  if  we^did  not  do  our  du« 
ty,  to  blow  our  brains  out ;  «  aye,  aye !"  was  answered 
by  Stone,  who  then  held  a  pistol  at  my  head,  and  ordered 
US  to  our  places.  We  then  contin^ed  at  our  pieces  and  wert 


"v< 


\ 


■    ;9 


l^v,-  ->'»v-  -' 


■■■-•"'.     ■^i^■^^■^ 


*ri-; 


/   .    •  ■ 


>.  -^ 


.  ■<.      VC" 


i 


/hl!JJ-.  t''^i^^^!'*'Aifrii't'^'^Mt*>'^ \ir^**t {i^u  'fi^*f>ii-^ii*i^>J^'fi\\^»x*U'*s*n-^M\*th:f'^~nh-i''-.^  ■  " 


94 


BARBABITlfiS  OF 


compelled  to  fij;ht  till  the  Peacock  strnck ;  and  we  iceiKj 
liberated  after  aa  kuprewmant  of  about  two  yeara  and 
eieht  mooths.  his 

'  BICHARD  X  THOMPSON, 

mark 
PoughkeepBie,  April  17,  1818. 
Bead  over  aad  sieoed  iu  presence  of 

JOSEPH  HABRl^ 
JOHNS.  FREAA. 


^' 


B17TCHI8  0OI71ITT,  18. 

James  Tompkioe,  bdng  aworn,  saith,  that  h«  is  a  ii9> 
tire  of  Ulster  county,  opposite  Pouglikeepsie  f  that  he  sail^ 
ed  out  of  New-Tork  in  the  m^onth  of  April,!  8 1 2,in  theshlyi 
Minenra,  bound  to  Ireland ;  that  on  her  homeward  bound 
passage,  in  Juty  nfter,  this  deponent,  with  three  other 
American  seamen,  Samuel  Da^,  Wm.  Toung,  and  John 
Brown,  were  impressed  and  taken  on  board  of  tlie  British 
ship  Acteon,  David  Smith,  captain.  We  were  taken  onr 
Saturday  evening;  on  Monday  morning  we  were  brought 
to  the  gai^way,and  informed  we  must  enter  on  board  the  ship 
and  live  as  other  seamen,  or  we  should  live  on  oatmeal 
and  water  and  receive  five  dozen  lashes.  This  deponent 
aays,  himself  and  ik^  other  three  impressed  with  him,  did 
recuse  to  enter,  and  each  of  them  were  then  whipped  five 
dozen  lashes.  On  Wednesday  following,  we  were  again 
all  brought  up  and  had  the  same  offer  made  to  us  to  enter 
which  we  refused,  and  we  were  again  whipped  four  dozr 
en  lashes  each>  Oo  Saturday  after,  the  like  offer  Ws^ 
made  to  us,  and  on  our  refusal  we  were  again  whipped 
three  dozen  lashes  eaci^.  On  Monday  followiog,  still  re«< 
fueiiig  to  enter,  we  were  again  whipped  two  dos^n  each»y 
On  Wedce&day  following  we  were  again  whipped  one  doz- 
en each,  and  ordered  to  be  taken  below  and  put  in  irons 
till  we  did  enter;  and  the  captain  said  he  would  punish 
iiie  damned  Yankee  rascals  till  they  did  enter.  We  were 
then  put  in  irons ;  and  laid  in  irons  three  months.  Dur<«» 
ing  the  time  of  our  impressment  the  ship  had  an  action 
and  captured  a  French  ship.  Before  this  action  we  were 
taken  out  of  irons  and  asked  to  fight,  but  we  refused ;  and 
after  the  action  we  were  a^ain  )r(Hied,  where  we  re^ 


'■-if-.: 


"(■■t 


•'  •^;.iMmw'«ci««-M[-  Mt- 


•^♦-*-^*-ni 


V 

:  ■'^.■■"^'':*.\'  ..-,,■■ 

1 

'  -y 

::vi;:-  -S^;.':,--;;^;-.. 

1 

prtffa 

kw^S.<^%A-^»t..l>.^i  m*,  ^  (..♦•v  fct*.fuJK'>V*^!'^ 

■-'' 

w. 


TllE  ENEMY. 


65 


mained  till  the  ship  arrived  at  London.  After  arriving 
there  we  lirBt  heard  of  the  war  with  America,  and  thht  the 
Guerriere  was  taken.  Tiiis  deponent  took  Ids  shirt,  Sam- 
uel Davis  and  William  Youog  took  their  handkerchiefs, 
made  stripes  and  stars  for  the  American  colors,  and  hung 

it  over  a  gun,  and  gave  three  cheers  for  the  victory. 

The  next  morning  at  0  o'clock  we  were  brought  up  and 
whipped  two  dozen  lashes  each  for  huzzaing  for  the  Yan- 
kee flag.  Shortly  after  this  we  were  all  released  by  the 
assistance  of  the  American  consul  apd  captain  Hall,  who 
knevr  us. 

.  This  deponent  further  8ath,that  all  had  protections^  and 
showed  them,  and  claimed  to  be  Americans  at  the  time 
they  were  impressed.  .,. 

JAMES  TOMPKINS. 
Sworn  before  me  this  17lh  day  of  April,  ]  813,  at  which 
time  the  said  James  Tompkins  showed  me  his  wrists 
-which  at  his  request  I  examined,  and  there  appeared  to 
be  marks  on  both  of  them,  occasioned,  ^s  I  suppose,  fronj 
his  having  been  in  iron^. 

WM.  W.  BOGARDUS,  ** 


**r 


Justice  of  the  Peace,, 


>i 


No.  y. 


'W'*' 


-yf^ 


,I-I^t4':?i»i 


i^*i./ ■  ■■«?' t4s!ii'f^*r!tl(j;iif*-.' 


i^iti^-^^-'jy^' 


^'%|^  «^^>  VIOLATION   OP  FLAGS   OE   TBI7CE.  » 

Montreal  Prison,  Qth  May  J  1^13, 
Sir — I  am  an  unfortunate  American  who  was  taken  by' 
the  Indians  on  my  way  to  Maiden,  with  a  flag  of  truce 
from  gen.  Harrison,  on  the  night  of  the  31st  January  and  . 
after  a  variety  of  indignities,  too  tedious  to  mention,  I  watt 
brought  her€  and  put  into  the  dungeon  for  33  days,   and 
have  been  up  on  the  centre  floor  a  week.     I  wish  to  see 
you,  if  possible,  and  have  your  advice,  &c.  Ac*"  '   ■ 
'■'yi^i^'-..  In  haste,  your\  &c. 

^      m  SAMUEL  M'KEEHAN, 

SttrgeorCs  mate  2dregt,  2d  brig,  Ohio  Militic^ 
Weutenant  Dudley. 


'k' 

'   s 

4.  • 

•i,  •    , 

i 


.-I 


A 


*'.  '■■■ 


Xi'. 


n,\. 


BARBARITIES  OF 


■-;T, 


.#  Montreal  Prison,  OfR  May,  1813, 

'Sir — Yest'^rday  sir  George'ii  aitl  came  and  informed 
me  ihat  the  nature  of  my  confme-inent  had  been  cootrary 
to  his  orders,  and  Colonel  Lethbridge  va»  required  to 
restore  nie  ray  liberty.  I  was  also  inforrci^  that  you  and 
my  self  would  probably  in  a  'ew  days  be  sent  to  the  U. 
States,  Col.  Lethbridge  icKI  me  he  troidd  send  ior  rae 
at  3  o'clock,  and  take  my  parole.  In  less  than  one  War, 
major  Shackleton  called  and  said,  the  goTcrnor,  after  ma- 
ture consideration,  had  concluded  he  could  not  let  ifiC 
have  ray  liberty  until  he  would  hear  from  gen.  Proctor. 

Two  or  three  days  after  my  imprisonment,  major  Shack- 
Ictoa  told  me  that  gen.  Proctor  had  promised,  with  the 
next  despatches,  to  send  on  all  the  papers  relating  to  my 
i;ase,  and  that  then  I  svould  have  a  hearing. 

So  you  may  see  r^nishment  by  torture  is  not  yet  abol- 
ished. If  they  had  drove  a  dajrger  through  my  heart  my 
punishment  would  have  been  much  less  and  their  compas- 
sion much  greater.     ■  '■■■i>?.^.^f'^^:']if^-Si-X:^:^'M^'^\;-.-' 

-    Tour's,  &c. 
^^     ,  SAMUEL  M'KEEHAN. 

*  "MajorShacklflon  alsjtoldme  that  colonel  Baynes^as 
unauthcrized  to  tell  (oe  what  he  did. 

^- :.  ■^^;;- ■  r>:' ;^; .  .•:.;•  -^--^  ^^^y^-j^.    g.  M'KEEHAN. 
Itileiiti^ni^nt  I)Hdley.'''i'^',''^'''';*'"'''^'^'->^  . 


«'y;i 


^S.-"^'' 


Montreal  Qaoly  May  1 2, )  e  15. 
9!H— -If  am  requested  by  Dr.  M'Keehan  to  inform  yon 
pf  his  present  unpleasant  situation.  He  is  at  this  time  90 
moweU  as  to  be  confined  to  his  bed,  and  has  no  chance  of 
getting  any  thing  to  make  him  comfortable.  JSo  person 
attends  here  to  examine  our  situation,  neither  have  we  a 
chaucc  to  send  out  after  any  necessaries  that  we  want. 

I  am  coDjfident  the  Doctor's  case  requires  some  very 
i^peedy  aid,  particularly  as  it  respects  his  confined  situa- 
tion, lodji^ing,  «fec. 

Tour's,  respectftilly,  ^"^  ^'       cv  ;•  ^jk"  J'. 
-     ^  ^  :.  r-^     rr>  ^-y      GEORGE H.  RODGERS, 

'     -'  :■   .-    ¥>';;:     f.  States  Armm 
liauucpant  Dudley.    •  '       -  ^ '    ,  V^ 


H 
*'.• 


.  ':T''  ■  \./-.  ■'.  :.'■ 


•.4fr 


:j<^^\V. 


THE  ENEMY, 


''^.■■^'ei  ■;■;•. 


.,»»**'' 


07 


Dr.  M^Keehan^B  iSfarralive, 

On  the  31st  of  January  last,  I  was  ordered  by  general 
Harrisoo  to  proceed  to  the  river  Raisin,  Tvith  a  flag  of 
trace,  and  from  thence  te  Maiden,  ifnot  stepped  by  the  In- 
dians. We  arrived  -at  th«  foot  of  the  Rapidi  of  the  Mi- 
ami at  darli,  and  not  finding  a  company  of  rangers  as  ex- 
pected, we  encamped  in  a  cave,  tl^e  horse  and  cariole  be- 
fore the  door,  and  the  flag  standing  by  them.  Abotit  mid- 
night Uie  Indians  fired  in  upon  us,  killed  Mr.  Lamont, 
^rounded  myself  in  tlie  foot,  and  madt  us  prisoners.  Af> 
icr  dispatching  Mr.  Lamont  with  the  tomakawk,  scalping 
and  stripping  him,  they  seized  my  horse,  harness,  great- 
coat, blankets  and  other  clothing,  and  one  hundred  dollars 
in  gold,  which  the  general  had  sent  to  procure  necessaries 
for  the  wounded  c^ general  Winchester's  army. 

Tliat  night  I  was  made  to  walk  more  than  20  miles,  to 
where  capt.  Elliot  was  stationed  with  a  party  of  Indians. 
The  captain  treated  me  politely,  and  sent  me  to  colonel 
Proctor.  I  was  scarcely  seated  before  the  cokmel  began 
to  exclaim  against  gen.  Harrison,  said  he  had  been  used 
to  fight  Indians  and  not  British  ;  found  fault  with  my  in- 
Htructions,  and  said  the  flag  was  only,  a  pretext  to  cover  a 
bad  design.  I  rebutted  his  insinuations  with  indignation, 
which  I  believe  has  been  the  cause  of  all  my  troubles 
since.  I  was  not  recognized  in  my  official  character  un- 
til the  5th  February,  when  I  was  informed  by  Proctor's 
aid,  that  I  should  attend  on  the  wounded  with  Dr.  Bower, 
and  that  I  would  be  sent  to  the  U.  States,  but  by  a  diflTer- 
ent  route  from  that  which  I  came.  Dr.  Bower  io  a  few 
days  was  sent  home  and  I  detained. 

On  the  2d  of  March  I  was  arrested  by  order  of  colonel 
Proctor,  and  accused  of  carrying  on  a  private  correspon- 
dence. On  the  81h,  without  having  any  trial,  ordered  te 
Montreal,  and  hurried  on  from  Fort  George,  night  and 
day,  although  thinly  clothed,  and  the  weather  very  cold, 
from  Kingston  to  Prescott,  I  was  made  to  eat  with  the  of- 
ficers* servants.  This  course  of  torture  being  finished  on 
the  28th,  when  I  arrived  at  Montreal,  and  without  being 
asked  an>  questions  or  suiTered  to  ask  any  myself,  I  was 
put  into  the  dungeon,  eight  or  ten  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  grouod,  vhere  I  had  neither  bed  nor  bedding,  chair. 


ii: 


M 


^Y 


,■■«■•(- 


6^ 


BARBARITIES  OF 


f:       ,r  'T  J.  '.  I^*_ 


bedch  or  stool ;  denied  pen,  ink  or  paper,  or  even  tlie  usa 
of  a  booJr.  for  two  weeks.  The  only  current  of  air  that  pass- 
ed  throLv^h  my  apartment,  came  through  the  bowels  of  the 
privy  t  Her®  I  was  kept  33  days,  when  I  was  to  my  great 
joy  put  up  with  the  Aoiericao  prisoners,  and  with  them 
permitted  to  remain  till  last  Monday,  when  I  was  liberat- 
ed by  the  inter^essiou  of  lieutenant  Dudley,  of  the  navy. 
Col.  Baynes,  aid  to  the  governor,  told  me  the  outrage 
which  had  been  committed  on  ray  person  was  contrai^ 
lo  his  orders. 

I  left  fourteen  American  prisoners  in  jail,  viz.  George 
H,  Rodgers,  United  States'  army;  Wm.  HoUenbeck, 
Onis  Hooker,  Philaster  Jones,  Harry  a  ones,  Lewis  Mi- 
nor, 2iebina  Conkey,  Phiney  Conkey, Canton;  Seth  Barnes, 
Camden;  Jared  Witherit,  John  Campbell,  Schoharie  ; 
major  Watson,  Ogdensburg ;  Alexander  M'Gregor,  Bals- 
ton;  who  were  kept  in  close  confinement,  notwithstand- 
ing col.  Lethbridge  and  major  Shackleton  had  pledged 
their  words  to  captain  Conkey  before  he  left  Montreal  for 
Quebec,  that  they  should  have  the  liberty  of  the  toM  n 
during  the  day.  But  the  captain  was  scarcely  g'^ne,  when 
the  pledge  was  either  forgotten  or  disregarded.  The  pris- 
oners now  are  not  permitted  to  procure  such  things  as  their 
small  stock  of  money  would  provide.  Sometimes  they 
,are  half  a  day  without  water,  and  two  or  three  days  mih- 
out  wood ;  and  if  they  complain  they  are  cursed  and  :  bus- 
ed by  the  jailor,  and  told  they  are  only  allowed  a  quart  of 
water  in  the  day.  I  am  requested  to  represent  their  situ- 
ation to  gen.  Dearl^orn,  which  I  intend  to  do  as  soon  as  I 
arrive  at  Sacket'6  Harbor. 

This  is  a  sketch  of  the  indignities  I  have  had  to  put  up 
^ith  since  the  Iftst  of  January.    I^am  yours,  <&:c, 
.  :.T,  ...jv,  ,..^.,.         I  SAMUEL  M'KEEHAW, 

SurgeorCs  mate  2dregbnent  Ohio  militia* 

Albany,  May  24tb,  1813. 

To  his  Excellency  Major-Gcmral  Dearborn.     /;« 

Sir — Without  introduction  er  apology,  I  beg  leave  to 

state  to  your  excellency,  that  on  the  31st  of  January  last 

I  was  ordered  by  general  Harrison  to  proceed  to  the  rivr 

kv  Rj^isin  with  ^  flag  of  truce.    I  was  required  id  my  ia* 


'■'.,.>'.  ■:^  ir.-~. .  ■  ''V*' '    *  ■ 


THE  EFEMY.  ■ 


«9 


stmctioM,  if  I  met  no  Rritish  officer  at  that  place,  to 
proceed  to  Maiden  (if  too  great  dauger  did  not  appear 
from  the  savages.)  The  same  evening,  thirty  three 
miles  from  the  river  Raisia,  the  Indians  fired  upon  us  an<l 
killed  Mr.  Lamont,  (one  of  my  attendants)  wounded  my- 
self in  the  foot,  then  conveyed  one  to  captain  Elliot, 
who  took  me  to  the  river  Raisin,  and  from  thence  sent 
me  to  general  Proctor,  at  head-quarters  io  Sandwich, 
who  swore,  by  God,  that  the  flag  and  papers  which  I 
gave  him  waa  only  a  pretence  to  cover  a  dtshonorablft 
service,  I  rebutted  bis  insinuations  as  moderately  a? 
my  indignant  feelings  would  permit.  General  Proctor 
made  several  observations  on  general  Harrison's  abilitiea 
as  a  commander ;  said  be  was  used  to  fight  Indians,  but 
not  British  troops,  &c.  lie  kept  my  instructions;  did 
not  even  inform  the  senior  officer,  ensign  Baker,  of  the 
American  prisoners,  that  he  had  a  letter  for  him.  I  was 
ordered  to  a  tavern  under  the  care  of  a  French  sexgeant. 
I  waited  till  the  4th  of  February  before  I  wrote  to  gene- 
ral Proctor,  demanding  in  what  character  I  was  condd^ 
ered;  how  long  I  would  be -detained,  «iid  the  cause  of  b^ 
detention.  -     '':^"'-^'^?"::.:i'-' ''.:..:;.  t^ 

The  ne:i(t  day  the  general's  aid  informed  me  I  was  re^ 
cognized  a?  surgeon's  mate,  and  would  attend  with  Dr. 
Brown  on  the  American  wounded  prisoners.  On  the 
12th  I  received  a  letter  from  General  Proctor,  in  answer 
(o  one  I  had  written  to  him  the  day  before,  of  which  the 
fallowing  is  a  copy :  ;. 

Sandwich,  Uth  Feb.  1813.    • 

Sir — In  a..swer  to  your  letter  of  the  11th  instant,  I 
am  directed  by  colonel  Proctor,  commanding,  to  observe, 
tha'.  you  were  sent  in  for  the  purpose  of  attending  on 
the  sick  and  wounded  of  general  Winchester's  army,  for 
which  purpose  you  are  now  detained ;  and  beg  leave  far- 
ther to  observe,  that  in  the  execution  of  your  duty  you 
wiil  render  a  most  important  service  to  your  country. 

V    .»  ^,      I  iiQYQ  the  honor  to  be,  &c.  vr  - 

A.  W.  M'LEAIN,  A.  D.  C. 

I  continued  to  attend  the  wounded  until  the  2d  of 
March,  when  A.  D.  C.  M'Leain  informed  me  that  I  was 
accivBeiof  carrying  on  a  private  correspondence^  an^ 


I:- 


If 


■•>tfl 


■■■ 


•Jl^::?tW': 


;*.,,, 


m 


BARBARITIES  OF 


{ 

4 


that  be  was  ordered  to  take  me  into  custody  and  secure 
my  papers:  Trbich  was  accordingly  doue  in  the  most  un- 
ciTil  manner.  On  the  8th  of  March  I  was  taken  by 
a  guard  to  fort  George,  without  trial  or  hearing,  although 
I  had  written  to  general  Proctor  repeatedly  requesting 
an  investigation,  to  which  I  received  no  answer  of  any 
kind.  From  fort  George  I  was  sent  to  Montreal  and  hur- 
ried on  night  and  day,  although  thinly  clothed  (having 
been  robbed  apd  stripped  by  the  Indians)  and  the  weath- 
er very  cold.  On  my  arrival  at  Montreal,  I  was,  with- 
out being  asked  any  questions  or  permitted  to  ask  any 
myself,  put  into  a  dungeon  eight  or  ten  feet  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  in  dark  and  solitary  confinement^ 
sod  there  kept  thirty  three  days,  after  which  time  I  was 
put  up  with  the  American  prisoners.  A  few  days  after 
my  elevation,  lieutenant  Dudly  became  acquainted  with 
my  situation,  and  made  such  representations  to  governor 
Frevost  as  induced  his  excellency  to  send  his  aid,  col. 
Bayoes,  who  said  he  was  directed  by  the  governor  to  inform 
me  that  the  outrage  which  had  been  commiltied  on  my  person 
"was  contrary  to  bis  orders,  and  told  colonel  Lethbridge  to 
take  my  parole  and  liberate  me  immediately.  The  colo- 
nel not  having  materials  for  writing  at  hand,  said  he  would 
send  for  me  at  three  o'clock.  In  Jess  than  one  hour,  the 
town-major  came  and  informed  me,  that  the  governor,  on 
more  mature  consideration,  thought  he  could  not  liberate 
me  until  he  got  dispatches  from  general  Proctor.  On 
"  the  1 7th  of  May,  eight  or  ten  days  after,  I  was  taken 
from  prison,  and,  in  company  with  lieutenant  Dudley, 
se'nt  to  the  United  States.  I  ma/  here  observe,  that  the 
apartment  in  whidh  I  was  confined  did  not  coutainr'eithef 
chair,  bench  or  stool,  or  bedding  whatever,  for  the  space 
of  two  weeks.  Fresh  beef  was  furnished,  but  no  salt. — 
I  was  denied  pen,  ink  and  paper,  and  treated  uniformly 
with  the  utmost  contempt  by  the  sei^eant,  whom  I  had 
the  honor  of  seeing  every  day  for  a  f«w  minutes.  By 
the  request  of  fourteen  Americ&n  prisoners,  now  in  Mont- 
real jail,  .rbose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  I  beg  leave 
to  state  to  your  excellency,  that  they  arc  kept  in  close 
confinement,  sometimes  half  a  day  without  water,  and 
ij^Queatly  two  or  thyee  <^ays  without  wood  to  cook  witln 


^< 


•.iJh-LfA.  X- 


*t\.U''*^-^''  *I..U^it«*sUK».w  'i'^t*-iiV-4-i.L'*il:ft'>.  .y»«tl'<,«i)»l»J\iiJtfj- 


Ab.?\>*A  ,K  M  >  .  |1  V?  U'i''^^ 


■^»-f"pr 


! 


1, 


>■  •-  ' ' 


:..;--;^;-..;    Tim  enemy.    ^'""' }:, v '../v 

t^A  when  they  complained  the  jailor^s  etirses  were  fteely 
lavished  upon  them.  They  have  not  the  privilege  of  pro- 
curing some  little  R€cc5«aries,  which  the  benevolence  of 
some  humane  persons  enabled  them  to  do  by  giving  them 
a  little  moneys  Sir  George  Prevost  has  told  them  that 
their  confinement  is  owing  to  the  bad  faith  of  their  own 
government,  &€*  i'^);^%. 

1  would  have  stated  to  your  excellency  the  knowledge 
I  had,  through  the  report  of  others,  of  the  outrages  and 
cruelties  exercised  on  the  American  prisoners  taken  at 
general  Winchester's  defeat,  but  must  refer  your  excel- 
lency to  Mr.  Ruland,  who  had  a  command  in  the  Michi- 
gan militia  last  summer,  and  who  wag,  after  having  been 
dispossessed  <^  all  his  property,  sent  to  Fort  George  with 
me,  who  no  doubt  had  many  opportunities  of  hearing 
such  things  triumphantly  spoken  of  among  British  ofil'- 
cers  and  subjects. 

I  have  ttie  honor  to  be,  &c.     ^   ^g. 
.,u  (Signed)  SAMUiSL  JrKEEHAN.    - 

Surgeon's  mate  3d  regt.  O.  M. 
Niagara  Coffee  House,  June  4,  IdlSw^^-^^.^-.^:^^^  ^^i^^-ij^ 


'i% 


List  ^persons  left  in  Montreal  jail 
Geo.  H.  iiogers  Major  Watson 

•fi  U.  S.  army,  .     Alexr.  M'Gregor 

Wm.  HoUenback      i?i/-^M*^vt  Lewis  Mioor 


..,vr^l*s-. 


Seth  Baras  ^., 

Gains  Hooker     & 
Phiiaster  Jones   >;; 
Danny  Jones 
Jared  WitheralK-T 


Htki^ 


■'i^r^'x'' 


J  ,  John  Campbell 
^  ,  Zebina  Conkey    ,- 
;.  Pliny  Conkey      . 
David  Johnston  >v 


i'^% 


':^i  - 


r,i«>3^-^-tt:V^':iv,^.-^4'.v^^.'^i,. 


0',:^... 


TIANSOM     Off     AMERICAN   PRISONERS   FROM   INDIANS  IN  % 
THE    BRITISH    SERVICB. 


"J;'V«-Sf'.<^*-:#«' 


'-■t  :!,;-;^';:"":;,wW  n 


ExtraaafalHter/rom  Mr.  Woodward  to  the  Secretary  of  " 

otatet       .1  u 


•  Slit-*.-    W,-       f     ,  ■j'V'"''->:r.' 


•'■I.    ,^f  ji&V^  i  'i'i-  '■  ■  -S'lf? ''  V i:^> 


Albany,  March  22,  nu 


**  A  few  dayrpretiou*  to  the  tturty-fintof  January* 


[» t 


i  1 


I!  .'■ 


n 


BARBARITIES  01? 


1813, 1  transmitted  some  letters  addressed  to  the  friends 
and  families  of  a  few  of  the  prisoners  whom  we  had  been 
ri>le  to  ransom  out  of  the  hands  of  the  savages. 
;  •♦  On  the  thiHy^first  of  January  I  addressed  yon  a  let- 
ter coferiog  sin^lar  infbrAatiOn  for  twelve  other  fami- 
Itesw* 


ifo.  VII. 


.-  ■'  it' 


I 


\ 


1 


?     {  - 


ii 


H- 


riL&AGS  ANi)  BESTSVCTTON  OF  PRIVATC  fROPERTT  ON 
■■-f.-'  TH£  CHESAPSAXE  BAT,    AND   IN     THE  NEIOHBORINa 
«  COrKVRY. 

William  SearB,  of  T9%ot  county,  in  Maryland,  states, 
that  about  the  day  of  April  last,  whilst  the  British 

squadron,  commanded,  as  he  understood,  by  Admiral 
Warren^  lay  about  Sharp's  Island,  in  the  Chesapeake 
Bay,  he  being  on  the  island,  called  Poplar  Island,  his 
{^ceof  residence,  Observed  some  tenders  &  barges  coming 
off  from  the  squadron  in  a  direction  towards  the  said  isl- 
and. The  relator  was  then  in  the  act  of  removing  his 
furniture  and  other  property  from  the  island,  and  hasten- 
ed therein  from  seeing  the  apparent  approach  of  the  ene- 
my ;  but  the  said  tenders  and  barges  whilst  this  relator 
was  crossing  to  the  main  with  his  scows  and  batteaux  la- 
den with  his  property,  and  in  tow  of  his  two  schooners, 
appeared  suddenly  to  put  back  to  their  ships.  The  rela- 
tor afterwards,  in  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  same 
day  made  two  other  trips  to  the  island  and  succeeded  in 
getting  off  all  his  bacon.  On  the  succeeding  day,  as  this  re- 
lator thinks  it  was,  he  again  went  on  the  i^and  and  got  off 
forty  or  fifty  barrels  or  his  com  and  some  other  articles, 
without  any  interruption  from  the  enemy.  The  relator 
^having,  In  his  first  trip,  got  off  his  family  and  slaves,  he 
now  watched  the  movements  of  the  enemy  frqpi  his  farm 
on  the  main.     On  Sunday  morning  the  he  saw 

two  tenders  come  to  at  Poplar  Ilsand  and  go  ashore  in 
barges,  and  after  some  length  of  time  he  saw  them  depart 
from  the  island.  The  relator  in  the  afternoon  of  t^e 
hut  mentioned  day,  in  cowpaoir  with  sereral  <^  his 


THE  ENftMY. 


73 


iieighbois,  went  to  see  what  the  enemy  had  done  on  the 
island,  and  found  that  tliey  had  injiiied  nothing,  nor  tak- 
rn  any  thing  away  except  some  cydev  from  the  cellar. — 
Tire  relator  then,  took  off  with  him  as  many  of  his  hogs 
and  other  articles  as  he  could,  and  was  hurried  off  hy  see- 
ing the  enemy  put  off  from  the  squadron  with  several  bar- 
ji^es  in  tow  of  their  tenders.  The  enemy,  on  that  evening, 
took  posscBsion  of  the  island,  and  remained  that  night  and 
a  part  of  the  next  day,  as  well  as  this  relator  recol- 
lects ;  and,  on  the  last  mentioned  day,  left  the  inland  and 
followed  the  squadron,  which  in  the  mean  time  had  mov- 
ed up  the  bay.  The  relator  seeing  this,  on  the  next  or 
the  second  day  after,  again  went  on  the  island,  and  there 
found  that  the  enemy  had  taken  and  killed  about  thirty 
head  of  black  cattle,  eighty-six  head  of  old  sheep  and  be 
tween  twenty  and  thirty  lambs,  that  they  had  killed  three* 
hundred  breeding  sows  in  their  beds,  whose  pigs  were 
found  dead  ;  and  that  they  had  taken  off  almost  all  his 
poultry,  all  he  supposed  they  could  catch.  From  his 
house  (where  he  had  left  some  of  his  worst  furniture)  tliey 
took  off  an  old  looking  gla»s  worth  about  four  dollars,  and 
some  newspapers  in  a  file.  They  broke  several  locks 
and  one  door,  and  threw  many  things  about  the  house.— 
In  a  liouee  pn  the  island  which  had  been  occupied  by 
James  Sears,  they  broke  his  desk  to  pieces  and  threw  a- 
bout  his  furniture  artd  otlier  thJngs  ;  bui  the  relator  does 
not  now  recollect  that  any  thing  was  taken  away. 

In  testimony  whereof,  the  said  William  Sears  has  here- 
unto set  his  hand  tliis  22d  day  of  June,  1813. 

WILLIAM  SEARS. 
MariflmuU        ^  ^  '  *^"''- '■  " '*'""  '■::  :'-T-  "■'"'.  ■^'.["Jy'  "  '■'-.  _ 
Talbot  county^  5 

Beit  remembered,  ttiat  on  tliis  22d  day  of  June,  1813, 
William  Sears,  Esq.  of  Talbot  county,  pmonally  ap- 
pears before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of  the  justices  of  x\\l^ 
peace  of  the  state  of  Maryland,  in  and  for  Talbot  county, 
duly  commissioned  and  qualified,  and  made  oath  on  the 
holy  evangelxBtS)  that  the  statement  of  facts  henin  con- 

G 


.(^r.  :   -■^,v:r^.1V..v<_3, 


,..->:.., 


^ 


1 


'\  ; 


H 


w 


'/4 


J5ARBARITIES  OF 


H 


h( 


u 


1 


taiiied  is  substautially  true,  to  the  best  of  his  knowiedj^, 
recollection  and  belief. 
Sworo  before  me, 


■■m 


mi^i^if^ 


-.'.  *■•- 


PETER  DEJ^NY.; 

State  of  Maryland^  >  .^     -. .  *j<;^ 

Talbot  County,        ^to  rvit . 

I  hereby  certify,  that  Peter  Denny,  Esq.  before  ^vhom 
the  above  aAidavit  jippeai-s  to  have  been  made,  and  who 
has  thereto  subscribed  his  name  was  at  the  tinje  of  taking 
and  signing  the  same,  and  />till  is,  one  of  the  state  of  Ma- 
ryland's justices  of  the  peace,  in  and  for  the  county  afore- 
said, duly  commissioned  and  qualified. 

In  testimony  Avhertof,  I  have  thereto  set  my  hand  and 
aflixed  the  seal  of  nvy  office,  this  t\7enty-fourth 
dayof  June,  Ano  Domini,  1813. 
,  (l.  s.)       .         .,  -JACOB  LOOCKEEMAI^, 
,.         "'     Clerk  of  Talbot  county  court, 

Corcil  county^  state  ofMaryland,  ;  I*.  "V    .■,..,:.'.'.. 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of» 
t'?ie  juFiices  of  tl»e  peace  for  the  couuty  and  state  aforesaid, 
Fri&by  Henderson,  and  made  oath  on  the  Holy  Evangel- 
ists of  Almighty  God,  that  on  the  29th  day  of  April,  181 3^ 
about  seven  o'clock  a.  m.  a  considerable  British  force, 
distributed  into  thirteen  barges  eomm^nced  a  hostile  at- 
tack on  a  landing  called  Frenchtown,  the  property  of  this, 
deponent,  in  the  county  aforesaid  ;  that  some  days  previ- 
ous thereto,  a  battery  for  five  guns  had  been  commenced 
on  the  wharf,  but  was  in  an  unfinished  state  ;  that  on  the 
approach  of  the  B^-itibh  force  eight  or  ten  men  collected 
and  commenced  firing  from  the  batteiy,  and  stopped  tlie 
advance  of  the  barges  for  son»e  time.  The  ammunition 
being  expended,  the  barges  then  came  on  and  a  firing 
fiiom  them  commenced  ^f  cannon  shot  at  the  battery  and 
aift)  at  the  dwelling  houses  in  Froiiqhtown.  The  British 
■tTicn  landed  on  the  M'harf  and  immediately  set  fire  to  a 
new  store  house  on  the  wharf,  which  at  that  time  contain- 
ed nothing  but  a  large  quantity  of  oats,  the  property  of 
thii^ deponent,  and  also  a  fisheiy  adjoining  the  wharf  was 
sot  on  fire  at  Uie  same  time  ;  after  burning  the  said  store- 
liiOii3Q  aud  fishery,  a  force  of  about  two  hundred  a*id  fifty 


'.   / 


•  -.  1 


THE  ENEMY.  ' 


/ 


marines  was  marche*!  from  the  wharf  iLrough  Frenchtown 
aod  up  the  river  shore  to  the  cl\rciUng  house  of  this  (lepo- 
nent,  aod  demanded  the  way  to  tlie  town  of  Elkton  ;  that 
finding  the  river  must  be  crossed  on  thtit  direction  to  get 
to  Blkton,  (he  whole  force  returned  to  Frenchtown,  brok<^ 
open  tlie  upper  store  house,  which  was  at  that  time  full  of 
goods,  part  of  which  was  the  property  of  the  United 
States,  and  (he  remainder  for  different  merchanis  of  Bal- 
timore, to  the  amtunt,  probahly,  of  fifty  or  siity  thousand 
doU<Hi*s^  and  plundered  and  carried  off  part  of  the  goodf, 
ond  set  fine  to  the  house  and  burnt  it  ivith  the  remainder 
of  tlie  goods.  This  depaoent  saith  that  the  two  store  hou- 
ses  and  Miery,  togethel*  with  theoals  and  other  property 
he  had  in  the  Upper  store  hou-ae  bnrfted  by  the  British  ns 
aforesaid,  he  has  suetaiaed  a  loss  of  about  three  thousand 
dollars^ 

Sworn  before  me  the  subscribe,  on  this  12th  day  Oi 
Juae,  1813. 

ALEXR.  EliTKEAtn 


.f4-' 


..to. 


Ccecil  countj/j  state  of  Maryland.         -i:.,  ,- 

f  ersonaliy  appealed  before  me,  the  subscriber,  one  of 
tb«  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  aforesaid,  Cor- 
delia P^enington^  llVin^  in  Frenehtown,  and  made  oath 
en  the  ftoly  Evangelists  of  Almiglity  God,  that  she  saw 
the  British  onllie  2^h  <yf  At^ri),  1613^  land  on  the  wharf 
ftf  Ft'enehtoWQ  and  imm<&diately  set  fire  to  and  burnt  the 
store  hoiiee  and  fishery ;  that  on  the  British  breaking 
open  the  upper  store  house^  this  deponent  went  down  to 
the  store  house  and /solicited  the  commanding  officer  not 
to  burn  the  hmise ;  ho  replied  that  he  caone  for  the  pur- 
pose of  biirt^g  the  store  houses,  that  they  Were  public 
property ;  that  this  deponent  replied,  the  store  houses 
were  prirate  property  and  belonged  to  her  brother  ;  the 
officer  said  thete  was  public  property  in  it  and  should  l3lr 
burnt,  and  ordeiied  the  house  set  on  fire  and  burnt  it  with 
«ll  the  goods  th6y  did  not  earry  away. 

Sworr*  before  me,  the  subscriber,  the  12thday  of  Jure, 
1813. 


!»■« 


'>  ■• !  i 


.'M 


%^u 


AJ^EXR.  KIJ^KEAD. 


•     1 
7^  \ 


•>  ♦ 


Hr 


:l'i?>'| 

■f*"* 


.>'H 


'id 

t 


I. 


'  > 


74 


BVftBARrTIES  OF 


H 


\  (u 


Ccecil  County ^  state  of  Maryland. 

P-^rsonally  appeared  befor«  me,  the  subscriber,  one  ol 
the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  aforesaid,  Delia 
PcQJngton,  and  made  oath  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Al- 
mighty God,  that  she  saw  the  Britisli,  on  (lie  29th  of 
Apnl,  1813,  land  on  the  M'harf  at  freuchtown  and  immr- 
diately  set  fire  toaqdburn  down  the  store  house  and  Ash 
ery,  that  after  the  store  liouse  was  on  fire  the  marines 
were  marched  up  from  the  wharf,  and  at  the  lime  of  ptun- 
dering  and  hurniog  the  upper  store  house  the  marines 
were  formed  in  the  road  opposite  her  mother's  .house  :  the 
olficers  commanding  the  marines,  who  informed  this  depo^ 
uent  lus  name  was  Wyboiirne,  said  their  orders  were  to 
burn  the  s^age  stable  a(id  destroy  the  stage  coaches  ;  that 
on  this  deponent's  soliciting  of  him  not  to  burn  the  sta- 
bles and  stages,  the  officer  replied,  the  question  they  geiv 
erally  asked  when  they  went  tr  y  place  was,  how  they 
voted  at  the  electSour,  and  enqui  i  of  this  deponeM  if  her 
uncle  meaning  Mr.  Henderson  voted  for  the  war. 

Sworn  before  mo,  the  subscriber,  this  12thday  of  Juji£» 

1813.    ..:   ^     .. 


•;''.i<*^.  i'v^i^' 


ALEXR.  KIIfKEAD. 


(■'""■'  I  do  hereby  cerl'V,  that  on  the  moriiing  of  the  6th  of 
May  last,  I  was  impressed  at  my  bouse  at  Turner's  creek, 
by  the  British  forces  as  they  passed  up  the  river  Sassa- 
fras  to  Frederick  and  George  towns,  and  was  forced'  to 
Accompany  them  to  the  above  places.  Op  our  way  up 
we  were  met  by  two  malatto  men  in  a  batteau.  Capt. 
ByiDg  (tlie  name,  I  believe  of  the  officer)  in  whose  boat 
I  was,  took  a  white  hankerchief,  fastened  it  on  his  espon* 
toon,  and  was  abont  to  enter  the  batteau  with  tlie  negroes, 
in  order  to  proceed  up  the  river  to  infonn  the  officer 
commanding  there,  that  if  be  %Fould  not  fire  upon  their 
barges  they  would  not  destroy  tlie  town,  when  he  was  or- 
dered by  the  admiral  not  to  do  so,  who  observed,  '<  that 
he  would  only  'send  the  negroes  with  the  message,  that  as 
they  were  known  to  the  people  in  the  fort  above  he  ex- 
pected that  tliey  would  believe  what  tliey  told  them." — 
We  were  then  opposite  to  Mr.  Wicke's  farm,  which  I 
think  must  be  about  a  mile  below  the  fort,    The  batteau 


i  -H 


'£ 


/THE  ENEMTX  if 

With  the  negroes  went  tq  i\w  fort  as  directed  and  the  Brit- 
ish forces  soon  after  followed.  I  was  in  the  foremost  boat 
and  continued  in  said  boat  until  their  return  down  the 
liver  after  burning  the  towns,  when  I  was  landed  on  Mr. 
Withered's  shore  and  most  positively  declare  that  there 
was  no  white  flag  ever  hoisted  in  her  or  any  of  the  other 
boats  to  my  knowledge,  nor  did  I  ever  hear  any  of  the 
British  officers  or  privates  say  they  had  ever  hoisted  a 
flag,  or  that  one  ever  had  been  fired  on. 

The  Captain,  on  his  return  down  the  river*  declared, 
that-**  if  iie  could  catch  Col.  Yeazey,  who  commanded  at 
the  fort  above,  he  Would  quarter  him  and  give  me  part  of 
his  quarter  for  steaks,  for  that  the  fire  h*"  had  received 
was  one  of  Washington's  rounds.** 

I  canH  say  positively  what  number  of  men  they  lost, 
as  they  would  only  acknowledge  five  wounded,  but  think 
they  have  sustained  greater  injury. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  Otb  day  of  June,  1813. 
^k  JOHN  STAVELY. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before, 

SAMUEL  BOTER.. 


I  certify,  that  I  waa  at  the  battery  on  Penrce's  Point 
on  the  6th  of  May,  when  a  squadron  of  British  barges  vi- 
sited Georgetown  ;  that  I  had  a  full  view  of  all  the  bar-^ 
g^s  until  they  got  possession  of  the  battery  on  the  Coecil 
Kiiore,  and  that  I  s&w  no  ^liite  flag  displayed  iripm.  eit|^r 
of  the  barges.  -i^-^^Wi  -^t^- 

..>.;..  .*^;.  W.  SPENCER. 

JuncQlhy  1813. 


!■•>. 


■#.,- 


We,  the  undersigned,  certify,  that  on  the  Otb  of  May 
iabt,  at  the  time  Admiral  Cockburn  with  i  considerable 
armed  force  attacked  and  destroyed  Frederick  and 
George  towns,  on  Sassafras  river,  in  the  state  of  Mary- 
land, were  in  or  near  the  breast  work  below  Fredericki 
town,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Thomas  W.  Veazey. 
From  our  position,  we  had  a  full  and  perfect  view  of[  the 
enemy's  hostile  armament,  and  saw  nothing  with  it,  oc 
preceded  or  followed  it,  that  indicated  or  had  tJbe  ftp* 


J  V 


r 


7^ 


BAli&ARlTI£S  OF 


pearance  «f  ^fiag  eftnice,  secording  to  tlie  established' 
U0B(!;e  of  civilised  nations. 

We  understand  a  (Vag  of  truce  to  be  amisaienfor  «  paci- 
fic purpose,  accompBi^ed  by  men  without  arma,  and  nn- 
protected  by  a  naval  or  military  force. 

The  bar^s  mored  ap  .the  river  in  cloae  and  compact 
order ;  the  leading  boat,  a  few  yards  atiead  of  the  rest, 
said  to  be  adtnfral  Coclcbucn^,  earrtad  a  edouftd  flag, 
and  was  escorted  by  not  kss  tfiao  fifteen  armed  baigev 
and  fuH  of  armed  men  immediately  ill  Its  rear,  and  evi- 
dently kpiM'oaching  in  a  menaehagp  manner  and  wkh  bos* 
<ile  intentioDS. 
(liven  under  our  hands  tliis  lOtli  day  of  June,  1813. 


Joshua  Ward 
J  (Am  W.  Etherington 
Oela  F.  Heath 
John  V.  Price 
Henry  E.  Coahnan 
Samuel  Dixon 
Joshua  Gvceuwoed 
Ttobert  H.  Ma?nrell 


^ 


.!«< 

•'\'. 


John  Dufiby 
John  KtlieiingiMm 
Moses  N.  Carson 

His 
Hezekiafa  XDowlin 

mark 
cVames  S.  Friee 
Elias  See 
Geoi^e  Besstor 


ijjfjfe- 


Tw.-', 


William  Etherington 
Joint  lioltts. 

We  saw  no  fl^  of  any  description. 


^..■f: 


■;*>.C- 


!  fi.> 


V  Joseph  Davis 
'    J  William  Rofeerts,  Nicholas  H  T.  Fnmife 

*  I)9nner  Orks 

t  ^efihuk    X  Keudiick 
..^  marK      <■»•.?'  •  - 

r      ws 

John   >*i  Goniy  ^^v":':'^-i-:^  •':««? 

.   mark 
State  of  Maryland, 
Ccecil  County, 

On  the  loth  day  of  June,  Ano  Domini  1813,  persmi^ 
ally  appeared  each  and  every  person  whose  osmes  ar^ 
subscribed  to  th»  foregoing  certificate,  befofe  tlie  «ubserl- 
ber,  a  justice  of  the  p«ace  for  the  aounty  ani  state  afore« 
;»aid,  and  made  oath  m  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  AlsifglR 


\ 


his 
Nicholas  HT. 

mark 
Joshua- HolTnigtotft 

his  fi 

Kathan  X  Fariowv 

..    mark 

'*-',  >  •  'A 

■■-•  V-   ■■^f'-. 


ss. 


f 


\i 


.  I 


THE  ENEMY. 


70 


ty  God,  that  the  facts  detailed  in  tlie  fortgoin^  certlft€at« 
are  thie,  to  tlit?  bcHt  of  their  knowledge  and  belief. 
.     Sworn  before  H.  B.  ^ENINGTOK. 


;A  

^^  I  do  hereby  certify,  that  I  was  at  the  breast-werk  nen 
Fredericktown  on  the  0th  ultimo,  when  the  British  came 
lip  the  river  kt  theik*  bari^rs,  and  iksA  I  did  not  see  a  flag 
of  tnice,  OOP  d»  I  believe  titat  (he  commaiuiiiig  oflicer  at 
the  brcaat-werk  knew  or  Eupposed  there  wae  any  atich 
thing  in  or  amoi^  the  barges.  As  M^tRoe^  B>y  hand  this 
hvelftbday  of  June,  1813. 

JAMES  SCANLAN. 
Sworn  to  before  the  subBcribcr,  a  justice  of  the  pence 
forCoecil  county,  and  atate  of  Mai^landi,  liie  day  and 
year  above  mentioDed. 
i^'  H.  B.  PENINGTON. 

The  depo^tion  of  Bichard  Barnaby,  of  Frederick- 
town,  in  CcDcil  county,  Maryland,  aged  about  forty-eight 
years,  being  duly  sweqm^  depoeeth  ami  saitl^,  that  on  the 
inoming  of  the  6tb  of  May,  after  th«  eogageracot  took 
piace  at  the  fori  below  thiif  town,  that  lie  went  a  short 
(liBtance  out  c^  town  to  sfe  seme  females  to  a  place  of 
safety,  and  oji  IrU  return  he  met  about  twen^  of  the  Brit- 
ish troops  armed,  commoBdied  by  an  officer  who  observed 
on  meeting  of  htm,  here  is  one  of  the  damned  rascals  from 
the  fort,  and  then  encjuired  where  the  damned  rascals 
which  were  at  the  fort  had  run  to,  and  ordered  him  to  go 
Mith  him  and  shew  tUtm  to  him  ;  the  deponent  olMervioiG; 
he  did  not  know  where  they  were,  thcx  officer  swore  h« 
was  a  liar,  and  drew  his  sword  and  ttu'eatene^  to  kill 
liim,  one  of  the  men  presented  a  hfiyonot  and  another 
drew  a  dii-k  and  swore  if  lie  cfid  not  go  lie  would  run  if 
through  him  ;  he  afterwards  went  with  them  ae  far  aa 
captain  Francis  B.  Chandler^s  house,  at  which  time  Fran- 
cis B.  Chandler  was  going  towards  hia  house,  and  on  their 
hearing  some  person  call  him  captaibi»  the  oiffieer  ordered 
his  men  to  take  him ;  the  admiral  coming  np  at  the  tinier 
enqinred  the  reason  (hat  the  he«se  was  not  or  fire.  At-  * 
terwards  this  deponent  returned  to  his  owb  house  wi^  the 
itdQiiral  and  requested  of  him  not  to  have  it  set  oq  fire  f 


.■f' 


% 


80 


BARBARITIES  OF 


the  admiral  promised  it  should  not  be  burnt  if  he  would 
furmsh  him  wit'i  thirty  fowls,  which  he  promised  he, 
irould  do;  he  furnished  them  with  about  thirteen  fowls  ; 
they  then  took  away  and  destroyed  nearly  Cie  whole  of 
his  furniture  which  was  in  the  house,  and  his  provisions, 
and  left  him. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  12th  June,  1813.  ^ 

RICHARD  B ARNABY.  I 

Sworn  to  aiid  subscribed  before  me,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Coecil  county,  the  day  and  year  above  written, 

H.  B.  PEJ>fINGTOJNr. 


'>.-«-.^  ■ 


U' 


The  deposition  of  Francis  B.  Chandlear,  of  Freder- 
ricktown,  Coecil  county,  Maryland,  aged  about  thirty- 
^Au€  years,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  saith,  that  on 
the  mornin^g  of  the  6th  of  ]\Iay  last,  just  as  he  had  re- 
turned from  the  fort,  he  was  standing  near  his  house  and. 
saw  a  British  party  consisting  of  about  ilfty  person^,  armed 
and  headed  by  an  oiiicer,  said  to  be  a  post-captain,  running 
up  to  bis  house  ;  that  he,  this  deponent,  stepped  upon  the 
steps  of  the  house  and  requested  the  officer  not  to  enter  ; 
that  he  caught  him  by  the  breast  and  called  tiim  a  dam- 
ned rascal  and  pulled  him  fiom  oflf  the  steps,  and  ihca  en- 
tered the  house  with  the  whole  of  the  party  and  gave 
Ijiree  cheers,  and  ordered  the  men  to  go  to  work  and  cal- 
led for  fire  ;  that  they  immediately  commenced  cutting; 
the  stair-case,  window^ash  and  breaking  the  glass,  and 
set  the  house  on  fire  in  three  places  ;  that  at  this  time  ad- 
miral Cockburn  arrived,  and  he,  this  deponent,  begged 
him  to  have  the  fire  put  out,  until  he  would  reason  the 
case  with  him,  and  the  adanral  asked  him  v.iiat  he  could 
do  ;  if  he  could  furnish  thirty  bullocks  in  half  an  hour  ; 
that  if  he  could  not  the  house  shorJId  be  burnt,  and  ask- 
ed him  if  he  would  try  to  get  them — and  upon  this  depon- 
ent replying  in  the  affirmative,  ordered  Ihe  fire  to  be  put 
out  for  the  pieseoi ;  that  he,  this  deponent,  got  upon  hiu 
horse  and  rode  about  half  a  mile,  wh^n  he  fell  in  with 
colonel  Veazey  and  informed  him  what  he  was  after,  and 
that  the  colonel  told  him  to  go  back  and  iuforui  the  ad- 
miral  that  he  should  not  have  them ;  that  he  returned 
9Qd  informed  the  admiral  of  it,  who  then  agreed  liim  what 


THE  E^^EiViy. 


Bl 


<A&e  he  couUl  do,  and  if  he  had  a  good  deal  of  poultry, 
and  upon  replying  yes,  told  him  he  must  have  it,  and  or- 
i^e\'ei\  his  men  to  catch  i*.  which  was  done  and  carried 
off;  Ihat  then  by  the  -great  persuasion  and  entreaty  of 
ihis  deponent's  wife  and  sister,  the  house  was  ordered 
not  to  be  burnt ;  but  the  sister  of  this  deponent  was  much 
abused  by  nne  of  their  inferior  ofljcers,  for  her  exertions 
in  endeavoring  to  save  the  property;  that  this  deponent 
kad  his  ware-house  burnt  by  them  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  gcods  in  itj  and  that  ?ir  Iiiniself  was  a  jpris- 
oncr  with  them  for  ajp(/ut  three  houia.  ^^  *^'i-»? 

Given  under  my  hand  this  12th  June,  1813. 

FRANCIS  B.  CHANDLEAIl. 

Swovn  to  ftnd  eubscribed  before  me,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Ccecii  county,  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
f  -     ^    H.  B,  PENINGTON, 

On  this  12th  day  of  June,  ISIS,  peffionaffy  appeared 
/Tonathan  Greenwood,  aged  thirty  years,  and  being  first 
sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  did  d*!- 
elare  and  say,  that  on  the  morning  of  the  6Ui  of  May  Lst, 
upon  the  landing  of  the  British  forces  at  Fredericktown, 
where  this  deponent  resides,  an  officer  and  two  sailors 
came  to  said  deponent's  house,  and  swore  that  if  they  had 
not  found  him  without  arms,  they  would  have  thrust  hira 
through  with  their  bayonets ;  they  then  retired,  fell  in 
with  some  other  forces,  which  soon  aft^jr  came  to  depo- 
nent's house,  broke  itQpen,  took  whntei'ei  they  conve- 
niently could  carry  away,  and  destroyed  the  rest  with 
their  cutlasses  and  dlrkf..  and  burned  it,  with  his  dwell* 
inf  ^'ouse,  store-house  and  kitchen.  The  officers  appear- 
ed lu  be  the  most  active  in  the  destruction  of  hie  proper- 
ty. The  houses  in  the  town  were  soon  after  generally 
set  on  fire  and  destroyed. 

JONATHAN  GREENWOOD. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Coecil county,  on  the  day  and  year  abme  writ- 
ten. H.  B.  PENNINvOTON. 

The  deposition  of  captain  John  Allen,  of  Frederick- 
town,  Coecil  county,  Maryland,   aged   about  fift^-one 


S;; 


r 


82 


BARBARITIES  OF 


i 


years,  being  duly  sworn,  deposetli  and  sajth,  that  on  lli€ 
morning  of  the  6th  •  of  May  last,  when  the  British  forces 
landed  on  the  beach  of  Fredericktown  and  marched  up 
through  the  streets,  they  feli  in  with  this  deponent  at  liis 
brother  James  Allen's  house*  The  troops  were  headed 
by  tlie  commanding  officer,  (admiral  Cockburn,  as  this 
deponent  was  informed  by  one  of  the  men)  and  observed, 
who  the  damnation  are  these  thnt  kept  such  a  firing  up- 
on us  ?  are  they  regulars  ?  This  deponent  answdred  no 
— ^they  are  militia.  He  then  asked  where  they  were 
gone,  and  was  told  he  did  not  know  f  he  then  asked, 
where  are  all  the  men  of  the  town,  and  was- informed 
they  were  moved  out ;  he  saifl  he  had  sent  word  to  t!ie 
shore,  that  if  he  Avas  not  fired  upon  he  woulti not  destroy 
any  property,  and  turned  round  and  observed  to  a  black 
bay  standing  by,  you  black  son  of  a  bitch  was  one  of  the 
persons  I  sent  word  by,  which  the  boy  denied.  He  then 
ordered  the  men  to  go  on  and  burn  and  destroy,  which 
they  executed  with  fidelity,  this  deponent  then  beggc'i 
the  admiral  to  spare  his  Iwuse  (meaninsc  tte  house  of  James 
Allen)  as  his  brother's  wife  was  confined  up  stairs,  in  a 
very  delicate  situation,  with  an  infant  only  two  days  old. 
He  then  ordered  her  to  be  cleared  out;  Mrs.  M'Don- 
n«h,  his  wife's  mother,  ran  out  clappHn^  her  hands,  and 
begged  for  Coil's  sake  to  ^pare  her  child,  for  if  she 
was  removed  her  life  would  be  lost.  He  then  otdei^ed^ 
epare  this  house.  He  now  marched  oflf,  aft<^r  the  men 
bad  been  gone  for  some  little  time,  and  shortly  after  r«j 
turned  on  horse-back.  Tliis  deponent  then  reqivested  the 
admiral  to  spare  him  one  house  ihat  he  might  collf  ct  his 
6aimily  together  in  after  it  should  pica^c  Providence  to  re- 
store peace  between  the  two  nations,  He  then  directed 
this  deponent  to  get  him  some  fowls,  who  infoi-med  him 
he  had  none  ;  he  damnrd  hiig,  and  asked  if  he  could  not 
get  them,  and  wss  told  no ;  immediately  aftorwanls  a  fire 
was  made  in  the  store- house  and  consumed.  Winlc 
G«orge  and  Frederick  towns  were  in  flames,  the  admiral 
in  the  presence  of  this  deponent  observed  to  his  officers 
— well,  my  lads,  this  looks  w^ll — to  which  no  reply  was 
made,  and  he  cwdercd  all  hands  on  board  the  boats.  That 
tW?  deponeftt  s?w  the  British  two  ajad  a  half  miles  oflf, 


I 


THE  ENEMY. 


83 


eftming  vip,  and  saw  no  flag  of  tnice  or  any  thing  like  it  ; 
that  this  deponent  is  of  opinion  the  defence  made  by  col- 
onel Veazey  and  the  men  under  his  command  was  such 
as  to  entitle  them  to  much  credit,  and  justified  by  every 
circumstance  within  his  knowledge,  though  JjimBelf  and 
brother  are  suffereri  to  nearly  one  half  of  the  property 
in  Fredericktown-  •  : 

JOHN  ALLEN. 
Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,-  thi«  12th  day  of 
Juae,  1833,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  Ccrcil  county 


X  H.  B.  PENNINGTON. 


?f 


The  deposition  of  Joshua  Ward,  living  aboul  one  mile 
from  Fredericktown  in  Cojcil  county,  aged  forty-tour, 
being  duly  sM'orn,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  from  the  best 
informatfon  he  could  obtain  from  tliose  persons  that  were 
left  at  his  house,  that  a  party  of  British  consisting  of  be- 
tv,  ei  n  ^nrty  and  forty  men,  commanded  by  an  olTicar,  said 
to  be  a  post-captain,  on  tlie  6th  of  May  last,  went  to  his 
house  and  immediately  plnced  a  guard  round  it,  enquired 
pavtirularly  for  him,  and  searched  every  part  of  the  house, 
swe.^ring  they  would  sacrifice  him;  being  disappointed  in 
finding  me,  ihfy  then  began  to  destroy  the  tables,  chairs, 
lookjug-glasses,  Ac.  wlien  they  had  completed  the  de- 
struction of  sucii  furniture  as  they  couIg  not  take  olF 
with  them,  the  eflficer  himself  took  dowu  a  pair  of  hand- 
some looking-glaBfes,  others  of  the  party  took  as  much  of 
tile  bedding,  clothing,  plate,  window-curtains,  &-c.  as  they 
coidd  conveniently  carry  with  them ;  my  little  boy's 
clothes  they  carried  off  on  the  point  of  their  bayonets  ; 
before  they  left  the  house  they  put  powder  in  every  room, 
below  stairs,  an  officer  got  fire  himself  from  the  kitchen, 
and  had  it  kimlled  in  the  different  rooms,  and  a  bed  put 
in  thecellar  with  a  part  of  the  broken  chairs,  tables,  &c. 
and  a  tire  kindled :  they  then  left  the  house,  but  contin- 
««d  in  the  jard  until  the  fire  was  bursting  from  the  win- 
dows, and  swore  that  if  there  waa  an  attempt  to  extinguish 
iho  fire  they  would  put  tlie  person  to  death,  that  they  in- 
tended to  reSurii  and  turn  eyety  thing  on  (be  farm ;  thejp 


l'- 


& 


•J 


>£.Mi 


I 


H 


!>,. 


84 


BARBARITIES  OF 


fired  at  one  of  my  sons  not  twelve  years  of  age,  as  he  was 
driving  off  a  flock  of  sheep. 

JOSHUA  WARD.  4^ 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  before  me,  a  justice  of  the 

peace  for  Coecil  ijountyv  Maryland,  this  14th  JtiDC,  1813. 

H.  B.  PENINGTON. 


The  deposition  of  Toilus  Robetson,  aged  about  thirty 
har  years,  who  did  live  Avithin  about  one  mile  from 
Fredericktown  in  Coecil  county,  Maryland :  This  depo- 
nent states  that  on  the  morniog  of  the  6th  of  May,  he  was 
at  the  breastwork  near  Fredericktown,  at  the  time  the 
British  armament  came  up  the  Sassafras^  river ;  that  he 
saw  no  flag  of  tnice;  f^  at  after  the  militia  were  obliged 
to  retreat  he  returned  home,  and  in  a  very  short  time  saw 
a  party  of  the  British  coming  towards  his  house,  and  he 
and  his  family  left  their  house,  except  two  black  women 
and  a  black  man,  who  state  that  the  British  took  the  de- 
ponent's household  furniture,  and  piled  it  up  in  the  yard 
before  the  house  door,  and  set  them  on  fire,  which  com- 
municated to  the  house  and  consumed  it  also ;  the  barn 
which  stood  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  house  was 
set  on  five  and  consumed.  TWs  deponent  lost  all  his 
household  goods  and  provisions.  He  saw  Fredericktown 
in  flames  prrvious  to  his  leaving  his  house,  which  alarmed 
himself  and  family  to  that  degree  (hat  he  abandoned  his 
house  for  their  safety.  ■  i      .  ;     •'    .:•)  • 

Witness  my  hand. 

TOILUS  ROBETSOJV. 

SMorn  and  subscribed  to  befoie  the  subj^criber,   a  jus 
iUe  of  the  peace  for   Coecil  county,  Marylari<l,  this  14th 
day  of  June,  1813. 

H.  B.  PENINGTON. 


it 


The  deposition  of  Moses  N.  Cannon,  aged  about  thir- 
ty-two, who  liv?8  within  about  one  half  niiir  ot  F<;edM 
icktown  in  Cflecil  county,  Maryland  :  Tldu  deponent 
stntrs  that  he  was  Bt  thebreast-worknear  Frederick  town 
on  the  Hth  of  May  last,  when  the  British  armament  came 
up  tlu'  Sassafras  river,  that  he  saw  no  flag  of  truce  ;  that 
allvf  the  militia  were  obliged  to  retYvat,  he  returned 


THE  ENElVh". 


85 


1! 


home,  and  was  occupied  in  turning  horses  out  of  his  wlieat 
field,  when  a  party  of  the  British  came  to  his  house,  he 
rode  up  to  them,  and  they  informed  Jiim  Ihat  he  Avas  their 
prisoner ;  and  on  his  observing  tliat  he  was  in  their  pow- 
er, they  inquired  of  him  if  he  had  any  thing  io  drink,  and 
he  ansvrcring  in  the  negative,  they  toidhim  they  had  got 
something  to  eat,  and  asked  him  if  he  wanted  liis  house 
burnt,  and  he  answering  inllienegalive,  thej"^  told  him  to 
go  tiK'n  to  the  captain,  that  he  was   in  the  house  and 
would  set  lire  to  it ;  and  on  his  going  towards  the  house 
he  met  the  person  Avhom  they  called  the  captain  with  an- 
other person  with  him,  loaded  with  his,  this  deponent's^ 
bedclothes,  a  pair  boots,  and  a  number  of  other  articles, 
carrying  them  towards  his  men,  who  were  formed  outside 
the  yard,  at  the  time  an  officer  on  horseback  rode  up  and 
inquired  of  the  deponent  where  the  damred  militia  were ; 
he  observed  to  him  they   had  reti-eated,  pointing  at  the 
ai.mt  time  towards  a  vrood,  he  observed  he  must  burn  the 
deponent's  house,  and  op   the   deponent  expostulating 
with  him,  and  st:\ting  the  di*advantygc  he  would  labor 
under  in  case  his  house  was  burnt,   he  then  inquired  of 
him  tlie  roatl  to  the  mouth  of  Elk  river,  and  if  he,    the 
officer,  could  march  his  men  theie,  and  the  deponent  ob- 
served that  his  government  would  not  ptrniit  him  to  give 
him  aiy  instructions  ;  and  the  officer  observed  he  knew 
that  as  well  as  the  deponent,  but  that  he  raiglit  trust  a  Brit- 
ish officer,  and  smiled,  and  turned  his  liorse  and  order'^d 
his  men  to  march,  anddiey  Aveut  ofT  without  burnh)g  the 
house  or  asking  any  more  quesstious.     The  deponent  tisen 
went  to  a  neighboring  house  to  see  about  a  part  of  his 
family,  and  on  his  return  back  towards  his  house,  he  was 
lived  on  by  a  party  of  the  British  stationed  in  the  public 
road,  about  one  hundrxjd  and  fifty  yards  from  t!ie  depo- 
nent's house  ;  he  llni?  retreated  across   the  field,  and 
Bhiiidoiled  his  house  ;  he  saw  after  riding  from   tht  par- 
iy  u||o /iM'd  (m  him,  a  party   going   towards  his   house, 
who,  %A  he  ►uppoijps,  drstroyedor  took  awny  the  residue 
(A'  h&  household  goods,  tttvi  broke  the  \>indow  glass,  sa^h, 
doors^  and  did  coasid(u«W  ;  <Uf»(»^»''  to  Iiis  house.     J'>ea 


■^ 


-I  ■'  (1 


^»^n 


BARBARITIES  OF 


IP  .< 


(.'licktowD  was  on  fire  about  tlie  time  the  fiist  pdrty  -of 
the  British  came  to  the  deponeot's  house. 

'f^:  Witness  my  hand, 

.^:  ^  MOSES  N.  CANNON. 

Sworn  to  an  d  subsciibed  before  me,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Ccecil  count/,  Maryland,  this  fourteenth  day  of 
.June,  1813.  ■>^u-v^.^iS- j?s\ -^^  .       ■       ,     ., 

"  ^igM'       H,  B.  PENNINGTON.    ., 


I  do  hereby  certify,  that  being  in  the  fort  at  Fredrkk- 
town  Oil  Sassafras  river,  on  tlie  morning  of  the  sixth  of 
May  last,  when  a  battle  took  place  with  the  British  and 
the  militia  under  the  command  of  colonel  Thoniae  W. 
Veazy,  I  distinctly  saw  the  enemy  from  Wv.  time  they 
first  came  in  view,  and  discerned  no  (lag  of  truce  or  any 
thing  resembling  one.  The  enenay  after  some,  resistance 
landed,  burned  Frederick  and  GeorgctoAyns,  and  destroy- 
ed a  great  deal  of  other  private  property.  My  house 
about  eight  miles  on  the  river  from  the  fort,  was  plunder- 
ed by  tlitm  on  their  way  dowd  the  river. 

JNO.  T.  VEAZY. 

Sassafras  neck,  Ciiecil  cmmty,  June  28</t,  1813. 
Sworn  before  H.B.PENNINGTON. 

[Here  follows,  in  the  printed  volume  of  documents,  a 
statement  of  tlie  g[>ecics,  quantity  and  valuation  of  pro- 
perty, burnt  or  otherwise  destroyed  or  taken  away,  by 
ilieeiRiny  at  Fredtricktowu  and  Georgetown,  the  amount 
of  ^vlilch  is — 

At  Fiedericktown  Do/i.  15,871  07 

AtCw^ttpwa  19,755  81 

Total  burnt  and  destroyed  or  taken  off         35,626  88 
[This-  statenjent  is   signed   nud  authenticated  by  Messrs. 
^fohn  J.  Cox,  John  Maxuill  and  James  Black is»ton.] 

Easttrnshore,  Maryland. 
SIR — Multiplied  rngnjfc mints  and  forgetfulr.ets  euc- 
ctedir.g  each  other,  Imve  prevented  my  forwai;fling  to 
you  tliis  Etalenif  nt  of  the  depredations  committed  on  my 
propf  riy  at  bhaip's  Island,  by  thi;  enemy  while  in  the 
Cijfi-.njKHke.  On  the  12th  of  April,  while  I  Aras  in  the 
visi  of  rfsiiining  \wy  stock,  &;c.  they  lauded  upwalds  of  au 


'^■tfc^tJf" 


THE  EJNTEMY. 


&; 


Iiuudrctl  men  and  preventied  my  removing  nny  thm«r.  They 
detained  me  on  tiie  island  until  tlie  17tb,  in  vliicli  time 
they  were  principally  engaged  in  getting  water.  Dech- 
ratioDB  were  made  by  admiral  Warren  and  the  other  offi- 
cers, (hat  every  thing  of  the  stock  or  grain  kind,  taken, 
away  should  be  paid  for,  at  a  fair  price.  Adnsiral  Cock^ 
burn  was,  I  was  informed,  at  this  time  sent  up  the  bay 
with  the  advance  detachriient  of  the  fleet.  Admiral  War- 
ren's ship  and  a  few  tenders  only  remained,  about  the  isl- 
and. At  that  time  they  took  twenty-eight  hogs,  four  sheep, 
twelve  cattle,  thirteen  bushels  of  Indian  corn,  and  info.ini- 
cd  me  that  they  should  allow  the  folio  wing  prices  fcr  tiieni : 
hogs,  two  dolars  and  fifty  cents ;  theep,  two  dollars  and 
fifty  cents;  cattle,  thirteen  dollars  a  piece  ;  corn,  one  dol- 
lar per  bushel.  On  my  return  to  the  island  sense  weeks 
afterwards,  the  accounts  were  made  out,  to  the  amount 
of  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  dollars,  bills  on  their  go- 
vernment taken  for  the  anaount,  except  about  lift} -four  dol- 
lars in  specie.  Before  I  returned  to  tlie  island,  the  flcrt  had 
all  gone  down  the  bay.  I  understood  fr«m  the  inhabi- 
tantSj  living  in  sight  of  the  island,  that  the  enemy  had  paid 
the  island  another  visit  and  had  made  a  general  sweep  of 
the  stock.  On  my  arrival  at  the  island  1  fcund  it  too  trur . 
They  had  taken  all  my  sheep,  in  number  cinety-one;  six- 
ty-live of  Avhich  were  one-half  and  three-fourtl»6  blood  me- 
rinos, and  one  full  blood  ram,  which  cost  me  niiicty-five 
dollars,  eighteen  head  of  cattle  and  about  twenty  feogfc'. 
They  left  a  bill  on  llieir  p;ovcrnment  for  cnc  hundred  and 
thirty-three  «!oliars  and  caih  to  the  cmcimt  of  forty.  TL(  y 
took  all  the  poultry,  shot  in  a  wanton  manner  one  of  the 
finest  boars  which  this  countrr  could  produce,  and  which 
was  much  admired  by  admiral  Wairen  fdr  his  unccmmoTn 
beauty  Pjid  breed,  and  who  forbid,  as  a  favour  to  jne,  that 
he  should  be  disturbed.  They  bayoneted  others',  which 
they  left  wounded,  and  which  wouhl  have  been  k:t,  had 
np'  overseer  not  saved  a  part  by  killing  them.  They  left 
nothing  for  the  sheep  only  a  promfee  of  two  dc^llars  per 
head.  I  have  estimated  my  loss,  arising  pruicipall)  from 
this  last  visit,  at  twelve  hundred  and  three  doUarSj  as  will 
appear  by  -the  following  statement : 


i 


8a 


BARBARITIES  OF 


[Here  follows  a,  detailed  statement  of  the  value  of  ttic 
irticles  taken.] 

I  will  give  ttiose  prices  to  any  person  who  will  reinstall 
the  same  number  of  stock  and  Icioe,  at  the  close  of  the 
■war,  or  deliver  them  at  any  of  my  farms,  the  ram  exceptp 
ed,  as  I  have  raised  ©thers  of  the  same  kind.  The  injury 
done  me  by  breaking  up  the  flock  of  shetp  is  far  beyond 
Uie  piices  stated,  as  they  cannot  be  reinstated  for  several 
years.  The  destruction  of  the  ram  was  a  wanton  outrage, 
as  he  was  not  fit  to  be  eaten.  He  was  bayoneted,  and  I 
believe  left  on  the  islaad.  This  I  prcstime  was  aimed  at 
our  manuiactures. 

There  will  be  a  loss  of  at  least  20  per  cent,  upon  the 

bills  if  sold  here,  an«l  probably  a  total  loss  if  I  wait  for 

the  British  government  to  pay  them.     Add  this  to  the  a- 

inoUQt  above  given,  makes  the  total  loss  1,203  dollars.—- 

Vour  friend  and  servant, 

,  ^  ^    -  ^  ^;    V  JACOB  GIBSON. 

;    MarengOf  Idth  Juli/i  1312^     . 
James  Nabbt  esq,  near  Easton. 

Talbot  county,  set 
On  the  20th  July,  1813,  came  Jacob  Gibson,  esq.  before 
me,  one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  state  of  Mary- 
laod,  and  for  Talbot  county  aforesaid  and  made  oath 
on   the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  that  what 
is  contained  in  tlie  within  instrument  of  writing,  is  just 
and  trite,  as  stated,  as  near  as  he  can  ascertain. 
•"•^■'"/:.-?  ■>^.^:-^.l>>.L:V-^^i^^^';   Wm.  HARRISON. 
(Cepy.) 

U.  States^  frigate  Adams,  July  24,  1813. 
Sir — 'I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  the  copy  of  a  letter 
from  lieutenant  Read,  giving  the  particulars  of  the  loss  cf 
the  schooner  Asp,  and  the  inhuman  conduct  of  thp  enemy 
to  her  commander,  Mr.  Segourney.  Another  letter  from 
lieutenant  Read  of  the  same  date,  mentions  that  no  part  of 
tlie  enemy's  force  were  then  above  Blackstone's  isLinf). 
He  farther  states,  that  in  their  attempts  to  land  on  the 
Virginia  shore,  they  have  been  invariably  repulsed. 
Very  respectfully,  &c. 

C.  MORRIS. 
Hon.  Wm.  J  ones  ^  secretary  of  the  navy^  Washington* 
(Copy.)  "        ' 


THE  ENEMY. 


20- 


/  ^i  ^,         •     .1:^  .United  Stale's  cutler  Scorpion.       ;^ 
1.1     :        5       r-.  X,     Potomac^  July  23(1, 'iBl3,  ^ 

Sir — it  is  with  much  pain  I  have  to  inform  you  of  the 
death  of  poor  Segourney,  who  was  killed  a  few  days  ago 
(I  cannot  say  when)  gallantly  defending  his  vessel.  He 
was  attacked  whilst  lying  in  Kinsale  creek,  by  three 
launches,  and  after  a  sharp  contest  beat  them  off.  They 
liowevert  on  gaining  the  mouth  of  the  creek  were  reinforc- 
ed by  two  uiore,  and  again  renewed  the  conflict.  About 
this  time  Mr.  Segoumey  got  wounded  through  the  body. 
The  crew  on  seeing  him  fall,  having  no  officer  capable  of 
leading  them,  jumped  overboard  and  gained  the  shore  ; 
when  the  enemy,  who  by  this  time  succeeded  in  getting 
on  board  finding  the  colors  still  flying  and  Segourney  sit- 
ting up,  barbarously  knocked  his  brains  put  with  the  but 
end  of  a  musket. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  action,  Mr,  Segourney 
thinking  them  too  strong  for  him,  had  ran  the  schooner  on 
shore,  in  which  situation  the  enemy  found  her,  and  not  be- 
ing able  to  get  her  off,  set  her  on  fire.  The  militia,  how- 
ever, (who  must  have  been  slow  in  collecting)  by  this  time 
got  down  and  beat  them  off,  retook  the  schoener  and  ex- 
tinguished the  flames. 

They  have  since  buried  Mr,  Segouraey  with  the  hon- 
ors of  war. 

I  have  not  heard  any  thing  of  the  crew. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

GEORGE  C.  READ. 
Captain  Charles  Morris,  U,  States^ frigate  Adams. 

.    P.  S.  All  this  I  have  from  authority  which  cannot  be 
doubted.  .■  >  . 


r 

f 


M 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  midshipman  II.  M.  M'-ClhUock, 
dated  Kinsale,  July  1 9(/(y  1 8 1 3,  to  the  secretary  of  the 
navy  department. 

We  were  attacked  by  five  boats ;  we  continued  do- 
ing the  same  as  before,  but  having  so  few  men  we  were 
unable  to  repel  the  enemy ;  when  they  boarded  us  they 
refused  giving  any  quarters ;  there  were  upwards  of 
fifty   men  on  our  decks,  which  compelled  us  to  leave 

u2 


90 


BARBARITIES  OF 


u 


the  vessel,  as  the  enemy  had  poesession  p  they  put  her  en 
fire  and  retreated." 


Extract  vf  a  lettit  frcm  John  Tubtrvillf,  majer  of  the  2d 

brisra(i\  ^^\^h  regiment  of  the  Virginia  milHia,  dated 

Kinsa^e,  July  20th,  1813. 

"  I  arrived  myself  at  the  place  of  capture  before  the 
colors  were  lowered,  and  am  confident  that,  even  at  that 
time,  their  numbers  amounting  to  between  sixty  and  sev- 
enty, might  have  been  reduced  one  half,  before  they  could 
make  their  escape,  could  I  have  commanded  twenty  dec 
termined  men.  The  gallant  commandant  fell  before  the 
enemy  boarded  him,  by  a  bnll  which  parsed  through  his 
body,  but  continued  to  fight  till  the  last  ey.treroity.  "When 
there  were  forty  or  fifty  of  the  enemy  on  deck,  one  of  the 
schooner's  crew  a&ked  for  quarters,  nhich  was  denied 
hiff).  At  this  instant,  the  few  men  remaining  made  their 
escape  by  swimming  to  the  eliore,  and  Mr.  Sc^ourhey 
was  instantly  shot  through  the  head.  The  vessel  yas 
shortly  set  on  fire  and  the  barges  rowed  off.  Jhe  offi- 
cers fonght  bravely,  and  Mr.  M'Clintock  defended  the 
vessel  with  much  credit  to  himself,  afler  the  command- 
ing officer  was  wounded." 

Hoti.  JVm.  Jqucs,  secretary  of  the  nai'j/,  Washington. 

'(Copy) 

•  ■  '''  '  ■  Ntnhern,  July  19,  1813. 
Sir — On  Sunday  night  tTie  llih  instant,  an  Euglibh 
fleet  consisting  of  one  seventy-four,  three  frigatrs,  one 
Brig  and  three  schooners,  anchdred  about  one  rfiilte  fiom 
Ocracoke  bar ;  about  day-break  we  were  informed  of  it 
on  Portsmouth,  by  persons  froni  Ocracoke.  I  imme- 
diately got  up.  and  ordered  the  cutter  to  get  und^B  way, 
and  run  up  to  Newbern  aod  give  the  alarm,  which  she 
did,  but  made  a  very  narrow  escape  from  the  barges,  as 
fche  was  obliged  to  beat  over  the  swash  against  wind  and 
tide,  while  they  could  ro*w  a  straight  course.  1  believe 
admiral  Cockburn  intended  to  have  visited  Newbern  for 
the  pni'pose  of  robbing  the  bankis,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  cutter  making  her  escape  to  give  the  alarm :  indeed 
he  said  such  was  his  iutentiou,  and  was  much  exasperat- 
etl  because  the  barges  did  not  take  h.er.    I  believe  there 


THE  ENEMY. 


was  as  mnny  as  twenty-five  bai^^ee  that  crossed  the  bar, 
and  I  think  there  ctmld  not  have  been  less  than  three 
thousand  rejE^ulars,  marines  and  sailors,  in  thrm :    they 
captured  the  privateer  brig  Anaconda,  of  New- York,  and 
the  letter  of  marque  schooner   Athens,  of  rhiladelphi?, 
both  fast  sailing  vessels;  ihey  then  landed  on  Portsmouth 
and  Ocracoke,  and  such  a  cmel,  wanton  destruction  of 
properly  was  scarcely  ever  witnessed  ;  they  broke  in  pie- 
ces almost  evey  species  of  furniture,  cut  open  beds,  and 
scattered  the  feathers,  and  even  cait-ied  their  villainy  to 
such  a  length  as  to  rob  many  women  of  their  children's 
clothes  without  leaving  them  a  second  suit  to  their  back?. 
The  officers  pretended  there  should  be  no  depredations 
committed,  and  when  complaints  were  made  to  them  they 
would  say,  '*  point  out  the  fellow  and  he  shall  be  correct- 
ed,'* well  knowing  it  was  impossible  to  identify  any  one  of 
them,  among  such  a  number  of  strangers.     They  took  off 
the  two  places  two  hundred  cattle,  four  hundred   sheep, 
aud  sixteen  hun<lred  fowls,  for  which  they  pretended  to 
pay  the  inhabitants,  some  of  whom  I  believe  received 
more  thad  compensation,  and  others  received  nothing :  in 
siiort  they  have  ruinrd  atmobt  all  on  the  places.    1  had. 
time  to  send  my  trunk  with  what  bonds  and  money  there 
are  Ijelonjring  to  the      'ited  States,  on  board  the  cutter 
whi^  h  escaped ;  I  also   md  time  fo  bring  a  few  of  the  most 
valuable  papers  belonging  to  the  ofllee ;  it  is  well  I  did,  for 
they  destroyed  my  office  entirely,  tverj  paper  in  it,  both 
public  and  private ;  they  destroyed' my  library  and  all  oth- 
»r  property  of  mint  they  could  find,  about' eight  hundred, 
dollars  worth ;  and  tii^'n  sent  me  on:  board  the  seventy- 
four  where  they  detained  me  two  days,  until  they  bad 
embarked  and  were  ready  to  sail.    I  was  on  shore  twa 
days  before  they  discovered  1  was  a  public  officer;  T 
presume  they  sent  me  on  board  to  prevent  observation.. 
After  thi  y  >    i  kept  me  until  they  were  ready  to  start, 
they  turnrij  <\ie  adrift  in  the  oc^an  inr  a  smalt  boat  with 
four  Spai  •  .^3,  not  one  of  whom  waH-acqnainted  with  the 
bar  more  than  myself,  in  consequence  of  which  we  got  in- 
to the  breakers  and  very  narrowly  eiscapcd  being  lost ;  all 
these  things  were  transacted  under  the  direction  of  the 
humaoe  admiral  Cockbura.    I  believe,  firom  the  touytti- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0    Ifiai 


I.I 


2.5 


■^  1^    1 2.2 

:^  1^  IIIIIM 


1.8 


IL25  IIIIII.4   III  1.6 


<p 


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Phol 

Sciances 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  r4.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


1^^ 


•  •;v-'%v 


BARBARITIES  OF 


sation  I  overheard,  that  thej  intend  to  visit  Beaufort,  then 
Wilmington,  and  so  on  to  the  southward.. 
•  My  returns  shall  be  made  as  soon  as  I  can  get  what  re- 
mains in  some  kind  of  order. 

Very  respectfully,  -,, 

THOS.  S.  SINGLETON,  Co^  ;; 
Han.  Wm.  Jonesy  acting  secretary  (^  the  treasury,  ^ 
■'  — ^— .  ^  ^^, 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  May,  the  day  the  British  un- 
der command  of  admiral  Cockbum  made  the  attack  on 
the  town  of  Havre-de-Grace,  on  my  return  from  the  com- 
mons where  I  had  deposited  some  ammunition,  I  observ- 
ed an  o0icer  on  the  horse  of  Mr.  James  Wood  of  this 
place,  a  few  paces  in  a  S.  W.  direction  of  the  church.  At 
fii'st  sight  I  was  of  opinion  it  was  one  of  our  officers,  which 
I  thought  to  be  adjutant  MKuma,  having  heard  but  afe«/ 
moments  before  the  voice  of  John  O'Neill  crying  out  in 
words  to  this  effect,  "  nieu  return,  we  can  beat  the  rascals 
off."  I  was  however  deceived,  as  this  officer  was  the  per- 
son who  took  O'Neill  prisoner  while  in  the  act  of  entreat-- 
ing  the  militia  to  return.  Not  knowing  at  what  time 
O'Neill  was  taken  by  him,  I  advanced  in  a  direction  to- 
wards the  church  on  my  way  to  the  magazine,  to  assist 
in  carrying  off  more  ammunition,  when  I  discovered  in 
the  front  of  the  church  a  file  of  marines.  To  the  best  of 
my  recollection  I  was  then  at  a  distance  of  from  100  to 
150  yards  from  the  officer  on  horse-back,  and  I  think  a- 
foout  the  same  from  three  militia-men,  when  this  officer 
(said  to  be  a  lieutenant  Westfall)  with  a  drawn  sword  in 
his  band,  it  being  the  only  fiag  he  carried,  cried  cut  two 
or  three  ttmes,  "  will  you  surrender  ?"  one  of  the  militia- 
men  made  answer,  but  what  it  was  I  could  not  distinctly 
hear,  and  immediately  fired  on  him,  and  it  is  said  wound- 
ed him  in  the  hand.  Finding  it  impossible  to  reach  the 
magazine,  the  marines  then  being  round  the  church,  which 
was  contiguous  to  it,  I  bent  my  course  towards  Mr.  Sears^ 
tavern  in  hopes  of  finding  some  of  the  British  officers  there, 
and  by  intreaty  to  save  some  of  the  private  property, 
which  I  was  fearful  would  be  destroyed.  On  reaching 
Mr.  Sears'  sign-post«  \  found  the  first  division  of  boats  had 
just  reached  the  wharf,  and  two  large  gtins  were  fired^ 


THE  E]srEM% 


4>oe  of  M'lich  threw  a  ball  ok  the  roof  and  knocked  oil 
some  shingles ;  the  firing  then  ceased,  when  two  other  gen- 
tlemen \>Ah  nijself  advanced  on  the  whatf  ami  asked  fol| 
the  commander  of  that  division  of  boats.  Aperson  whom. 
I  supposed  to  be  a  midshipman  from  his  appearance,  an** 
swcred  "  captdn  Lawrence  will  be  here  directly  ;'*  he 
then  asked  a  number  of  questions,  such  as,  have  you  any 
news-papers,  how  many  militia  have  you  and  where  are 
they  stationed,  where  is  your.post-ofEce,  &c.  &c,  to  all  of 
which  we  carefully  avoided  giving  any  direct  anwer. 
Some  of  the  barges  tiicn  warped  up  along  side  of  the  wharf, 
when  i  thought  it  most  prudent  to  leave  them,  being 
fearful  that  I  should  be  made  a  prisoner.  I  then  walk- 
ed up  towards  the  ferry-house,  followed  by  ihe  two  gen-* 
tlemen  who  went  with  me  on  the  wharf ;  we  were  met  by 
an  officer  who  imediately  ordered  us  back.  After  reacht 
ing  the  lower  end  uf  the  w^iarf  the  midsipmau  before  meo- 
tioced  said — sir,  this  is  captain  Lawrence,  pointing  to  the 
officer.  Lawrence  then  addressed  us  in  words  to  this  a- 
roount, "  what  have  you  got  to  say  for  yourselves ;  where 
IS  your  mayor  or  chief  magistrate  ?"  He  was  told  we  had 
no  mayor,  and  there  was  no  magistrate  in  the  place.  He 
then  asked,  "  are  you  prepared  to  ransom  the  town  ?"  I 
asked  him  what  sum  he  demanded;  he  said  about  20,000 
dollars.  We  told  him  no  such  sum  could  be  raised.  "  Why 
then,"  he  replied,  *'  did  you  fire  on  us  ?  had  you  not  done 
that,  and  hung  out  a  flag  we  would  have  treated  you  bet- 
ter." I  then  asked  him  what  was  their  intention  in  comp 
ing,  and  in  what  manner  they  would  have  acted  had  a  flag 
been  hung  out  on  their  approach.  To  the  first  question 
he  ga^ve  no  answer  but  after  a  short  pause  observed,  '^about 
cne  half  the  sum  now  demanded  would  have  been  taken." 
He  was  then  told,  small  as  that  might  appear  to  him  U 
could  not  have  been  raised.  Then,  says  he  turning  hast- 
ily round,  "  in  three  quarters  of  an  hcur  y  cur  town  shall 
be  in  flames;  you  shall  now  feel  the  effects  of  war."  The 
said  captain  Lawrence  then  went  into  the  tavern  of  Mrs. 
Sears  and  with  two  or  three  men  brought  out  a  bale  or 
box  of  goods  (which  was  said  to  have  boen  lodged  there 
the  night  before,  belonging  to  a  lady  in  Georgetown)  and 
placed  it  A  few  paces  in  frcut  of  the  houee ;  another  oiEcer 


!*';.  'I 


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§4 


■;»■:. . 


BAEBARITIES  OF 


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out 


(name  unlctiowo)  entered  aftenraivis  and'  brought  out  8 
second  box,  and  placed  it  near  the  ilr^t.  Captain  Law- 
rence then  turned  to  him  and  said,  "  sir,  I  have  placed 
a  guard  here,  we  must  now  attend  to  other  business ;  we 
will  see  to  this,*^  pointing  to  the  goods,  '^  to-night."  The 
erder  to  fire  the  houses  was  then  given,  and  captun  Law- 
rence walked  down  street  and  entered  the  store  of  S.  Hogg 
and  Co.  the  door  of  which  had  been  previously  broken 
open,  and  a  few  men  were  in  the  act  of  taking  off  wear- 
ing apparel,  &c.  others  had  got  to  the  countlug-room  desk 
in  search  of  money,  scattering  the  papers,  &e.  en  the  fijcer. 
The  shameful  act  of  pilfering  the  goods  was  however  re- 
served for  the  redoubtable  captain  La^vreoce;  he  it  was 
who  first  began  the  shameful  scene,  so  disgraceful  to  an 
officer,  by  taking  down  knives,  forks,  &c.  saying,  "  ha  ! 
Hie  very  things  we  want,"  and  turning  rcuud  called  in  a 
l^sfa  set  of  plunderers  and  said,  "  boys,  here,  is  fine  plun- 
der :"  the  men  did  not  wait  a  second  irivitation ;  tut  set 
in  with  their  worthy  leader,  and  in  a  Ebort  time  emptied 
the  store,  excepting  some  articles  which  were  of  little 
value. 

Wra.  T.  KILLPATRICK. 


; ,  P.  S.  When  I  found  that  capiain  Lawrence  ordered 
his  m^n  in  the  store  and  gave  the  order  of  plunder,  I  re- 
monstrated with  him  on  tne  impropriety  of  such  proceed- 
in/^,  and  observed  that  with  civilized  nations  at  war  priv- 
ate property  had  always  been  respected.  He  replied  in 
a  hasty  manner,  *'  you  ought  to  be  more  particular  in  your 
choice  of  representatives ;  you  wanted  war  and  you  shall 
now  feel  the  eflTects."  W.  T.*K. 

Sworn  to,  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  June,  1813,  before""* 

ELI.TAH  DAVIS. 

Personally  came  James  Wood  of  Ha vre-de- Grace,  be- 
fore me  the  subscriber,  one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for 
Harford  county,  and  made  oath  accorduig  to  law  ;  tha 
on  Monday  morning  the  3d  of  May,  1813,  between  day- 
light and  sunrise,  as  he  was  riding  in  the  town  of  Havre- 
de-(jrace  he  discovered  some  men  in  the  act  of  hauling 
up  the  shore  a  piece  of  artillery  that  had  been  mounted 
on  the  battery,  and  from  their  dress  and  the  dullness  of 


4 


^ 


'  ;  •■'■  ' 

•J  X,     ■':•♦■'*■'', 

>-;^^.r  ,  :;■■  • 

.i^5,>?^;'-. 

,  THE  ENEMY, 


J9$ 


;tv: 


the  morning  he  took  them  to  be  Amencans,  nor  did  h&  dis- 
cover his  mistake  until  he  was  made  prisoner  and  compell- 
ed to  dismount ;  upon  which  the  officer  commanding  the 
l^ritish  immediately  mounted  his  horse.    A  short  period 
after,  he  was  ordered  on  board  of  a  barge  in  company  with 
some  other  prisoners,  which  barge  was  moved  up  to  Mrs. 
Sear-8  wharf  in  company  with  other  baizes.    Some  short 
time  after  lie  discovered  a  house  at  some  distance  from  the 
water  to  be  on  fire,  which  excited  some  surprise  (the  house 
belonged  t#  Mr.  John  Tucker)  he  observed  to  the  cock- 
swain of  the  boat,  there  was  a  house  on  fire,  asked  if  he  did 
not  suppose  it  to  be  set  on  fire  by  a  rocket ;  he  replied, 
"  perhaps  it  might ;"  directly  after,  I  saw  the  Britbh 
kindling  a  fire  in  the  yard  of  Mrs.  Sears,  and  asked  them 
for  what  that  was  intended  ;  the  cockswain  answered  to 
set  that  house  on  fire  ;  I  then  asked  them,  why  you  are 
not  going  to  burn  tlie  building  !     The  repJy  from  an  offi- 
cer on  board  the  same  barge  (and  who  I  believe  had  Qgt 
been  on  shore)  was  "  yen,  sir,  we  shall  lay  your  town  in 
ashes  :"  and  in  a  few  minutes  I  saw  a  general  conflagra- 
tion of  the  greater  part  of  the  best  buildings,  during  Uie 
time  I  remained  on  board,  which  was  until  a  very  short 
time  before  they  left  the  place.     I  «aw  the  officers  as  well 
as  the  men  in  small  squads  bringing  on  board^the  barges  as 
they  lay  at  the  yshBiI pbtmkred  property  of  almost  every 
description,  and  jiepositing  it ;  during  the  time  an  officer  ^ 
brought  on  board  a  large  trunk  or  box,  and  calling  to  on^ 
of  the  men  said"  I  will  give  you  two  dollars  to  take  tare  of 
this  for  me  ;  this  is  my   own  plunder  ;  this  was  a  stage 
passenger's  property,  and  therefore  i»  mine.**    He  further 
declares  that  he  has  no  knowledge  of  any  flag  of  truce  be- 
ing held  out  by  the  British,  nor  does  he  believe  there  was 
any. 
I  JAMES  WOOD. 

Sworn  to,  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  June,  1813,  before* 
"l^,:  ELISHADAVIS. 


-U- 


ti 


M' 


i  '! 


:Y 


Personally  came  Koxana  Moore,  before  me  the  subscri-  '■ 
;  ber,  one  of  the  justices  of  Harford   county,  of  Maryland, 

and  made  oath  according  to  Jaw  ;  thait  on  Monday  morn-  - 
[^  Ing  the  3d  of  May,  in  consequence  of  firing  of  the  Bptipb  ' 


ti 


■.■.•).5.::'.'t! 


,.\ 


■\:: 


J)/,': 


i 


■-v-.7"'»  • 


Vi 


Iv 


s ■■'-,•-  ■ 


BARBARITIES  OF 


-r:ti^:- 


l-.» 


into  the  town  of  Havre-de-Grace  I  fled  for  safety  (my 
Imsbind  being  from  home)  -into  the  cellar  of  the  house  in 
which  I  lived  ;  that  upon  the  ftring  having  stopt,  I  came 
tip,  and  meeting  an   officer  on  horseback,  and  who  was 
wounded  in  the  hand,  I  applied  to  him   for  protection,  fear- 
ing injury  from  some  of  the  men.     He  replied, "  I  will  not 
-hurt  you  nor  shall  my  men,  butl  will  burn  your  house." 
;  I  answered  hira  I  could  n;>t  get  out  of  it  with  my  little 
4?hildren.     He  replied  "  tji^u  I  will  burnyou|'  house  Avith 
,  you  and  your  children  in  it.'*     They  procHded  a  little 
further,  and  after  having  set  fire  to  my  neighbor  Richard 
Mansfield's  tavern  house,  a  number  of  them  returned  and 
^feegan  to  pillage  and  plunder.     They   took   the  whole 
■of    my  bed   clothes,   ray    own    clothes,     and   all    ray 
children's,  even  tt.  my  youngest  child's,  a  baby  not  two 
V  Months  old,  together  with  my  cradle   fumiture.    Upon 
;  my  soliciting  tlrera  to  spare  me  some  few   things,  one  re- 
'i>lied^  I  will  take  every  thing  I  can,  its  what  we  came 
i'lbr,"  and  immediately  seized  a   shawl   from  around  my 
,' neck,  and  which  was  at  that  time  nearly  all   the  covering 
'my  little  baby,  whom  I  held  in  ray  arms  had,  and  carried 
it  away  ;  they  more  than  once  put  fire  to  the  house,  but 
'from  the  exertions  of  some  of  my  neighbovs  it  was  as  often 
yut  out. 

She  further  declares  that  she  never  saw  any  flag  of  truce 
held  out  by  the  British,  rior  docs  she  believe  there  was 
'  any. 

ROXANA  MOORE. 
Swornio  this  twenty-fifth  day  of  June,  1613,  before 
*  ELIJAH  DAVIS. 


Personally  came  Rfchard  Mansfield,  a  citizen  of  Ilav* 

'   te-de-Orace,  before  the  subscriber,  one  of  the  justices  of 

the  peace  for  Harford  county,  Maryland,  and  made  ORth 

-according  to  law  ;  that  on  Monday  morning,  the  third  of 

May,  ldl3,  being  in  his  own  house  about  sunrise  and 

viewing  the  British   barges  as  they  came  up  the  river, 

'they  keeping  up  a  continual  firing  into  the   town   until 

*  they  reached  Mrs.  Sears'  wharf,  bein»  about  two  hundred 

^*  yards  below  this  deponent's,  #hcn  the  firing  ceased  ;  they 

'  IheDlafided^-aad  as  well  a^  he  could  discover)  at  the  dis^ 


,■(■ 


/ 


THE  ENEMY. 


i)7 


tftnce  from  i\hich  he  stoofl,  iTamecUateljr  launched  a  twen- 
ty-four pounder  on  board  a  ferry  boat,  which  bilged  her, 
as  she  began  to  8ett4e  in  the  water  as  soon  as  they  moved 
her  out,  and  in  a  few  minutes   went  dcwn  ;  during  this 
time,  two  of  the  barges  kept   moring  slowly  up  towards 
this  deponent's,  and  as  soon  as  (hey  iiad  landed,  a  petty 
©ITicer  ran  to  this  deponent's  ferry  boat  end  called  out--^ 
"  there  is  nothing  in  her  ;"  "  cast  lier  off,"  was  the  reply, 
^hich  was  instantly  done.     This  deponent  and  his   son 
being  at  this  time  on  the  wharf,  discovered  a  British  offi- 
cer on  horseback  with  several  men  at  his  heels,  making  to 
his  house,"  upon  which  he  returned  and  met  them  a  few 
yards  in  front  of  his  house.     This  ofTroer  whose  name  this 
<Ieponent  since  learned  was  Lieutenant  Westfall,  and  who 
was  wounded  through  the  hand,  immediately  ordered   the 
house  to  be  set  on  fire.     This  depbnent  remonstrated  a- 
gainst  such  procedure,  urging  its  being  unprecedented 
among  civilised  nations  at  Mar,  to  burn  and  destroy  pri- 
vate property  :  that  when  nations  were  at  war  all  public 
property  became  fair  objects  of  destruction,  but  that  pri- 
vate property  had  heretofore  been  respected,  except  such 
as  might  unfortunately  be  injured  by   the  usual  and  cus- 
tomary mode  ofwarfai-e,  or  tliat  might  be  taken  as  provi- 
sions.    His  reply  wa«  "  by  G — d  it  should  be  burnt."— 
This  depoitcnt  and  a  Mr.  King  who  came   with  the  offi- 
cer, solicited  for  the  moveable  property  that  wa^  in  the 
house,  it  being  furniture,  «tating  to  him  that  thai  was  tht; 
deponent's  only  dependence,  and  was  all  he  had.    He  re- 
plied generally,  by  ordering  ills  men   to  burn.    Durii^ 
this  conversation  the  men  were  in  t^e   house,  breaking 
and  destroying  every  thing  Ijcfore  him.    Mr.  King  then 
begged  the  officer  for  one  hour,   saying  that .  whatei^er, 
could  not  be  saved  in  that  time  might  go.     The  officer's ' 
reply  was,  "  one  hour,  no  by  G — 4,   not  five  minutes  ; 
hum  that  house."     Immediately  they  commenced,   and 
had  the  dwelling  house  on  fire  in  four  different  places  in 
a  few  minutes.     The  deponent,  with  Mr.  King,  continued 
to  solicit  for  permission  to  save  some  furniture ;  after 
some  time,   Lieut  Westfall  observed  "  you   may   save 
wliat  you  car^,  snd  what  you  can  save  shall  npl  be  di?- 


I     *'' 


.>!f- 


a" 


M 


mi 


i.K 


.  :  14 


^ 

S^ 


1 

,*-        '■■ ' 

\        \ 

.    -V       .:.         .     <■■■•%■ 

\ 

*        \ 

./■  %   Y  -  \  : .- 

'  '■■  i      '  . 

-  ■  / 

^  'A-         ',    -      ■ 

*■  '   -li  .,■'  . 

If'- 


.:^ 


.J    -'-'^v 


V 


"h 


^  BAIIBAIIITIES  OF 


turbed."    Exertions  vrere  then  mad6  by   Ihis  depone  ut, 
his  son,  and  Mr.  King,  to  save  from  the  devouring  flames 
ivhich  proved  successful  for  a  short  time  ;  but  a  few  min- 
utes convinced  us-what  liltle  dependence  was  to  be  placed 
on  the  word  of  a  British  officer,  as  the  men,  aided  by  offi- 
cers, carried  off  what  iiad  been  by  great  exertions   and 
considerable  risk  saved  from  the   flames.     The  enemy 
had  been  busily  employed  breaking,  def troy inp,  and  car- 
rying away,  until  the  flames  got  to  such  a  height  as  to 
reader  it  unsafe  to  go  witiiin  the  walls.     They  tnen  com- 
menced upon  such  property  as  this  deponent  had  saved, 
carrying  oft'  every  portable   article,  until  their  barges 
were  stowed ;  ripping  up  beds,   throwing  t!ie  feathers  to 
the  air,  cutting  up  chairs,  breaking  opien  desks,  <fec.  &c. 
The  officer  who  made  the  attack  091  a  Walnut  desk,  refus- 
ed to  have  it  unlocked,  but  after  breaking  open  the  lid 
discovered  the  inner  door,  exuHingly  exclaimed,  ah  !  I 
am  used  to  such  things,  tiri,  t  am  acquainted  with  opening 
d|%ks — or  some  espression  to  that  dtnount ;  and  immedi- 
ately broke  open   and   continued  his  search  as  if  for  mc- 
aeyk— After  having  destroyed  and  carried  off  nearly  the 
whole  of  this  deponent's  property,  and  seeing  the   build* 
inds  burnt  down,  they  moved  down  to  Mrs.  Scare'  wharf, 
and  joined  the  other  barges.  This  deponent  was  then  adv'ed 
by  Eome  of  his  friends  to  apply  to  some  of  the  officers,  and 
endeavour  to  get  some  of  his  property  back  ;  which  he 
did,  but  foiund  such  obstacles  in  the  way  that,  after  getting 
s  looking  glass  and  some  two  or]|three  articles  of  small  val- 
ue, be  gave  it  up.  But  npon  meeting  the  admiral  in  person 
he  renewed  his  application,  and  after  some  time  was   di- 
rected to  go  on  board  and  get  what  he  could.    This  de- 
ponent then  stated  the  impossibility  of  succeeding  without 
an  officer  to  accumpany  him. — An  officer  i^as  sent — but 
after  repeated  attemptB  to  get  some  of  his  property  he  was 
from   the  abuse  and  threats  of  being'  run  through    with 
ai   sword  from    an  tofficer  of  maiinrs,    for  claiming  h's 
property.  Compelled  to  decline  any  further  exertions  af- 
ter getting  another  looking  glass,  and  a  fcfW  more  very 
trifling  articles. 

This  deponent's  observations    being  confined   to  his 
own  house  arid  its  immediate  neighborhood,  which  was 


:ir;; 


'^• 


THE  ENEMl. 


<-^ 


Vi' 


<it  the  upper  end  of  the  village,  he  was  not  an  eyo»Avit- 
ness  to  their  stvage  like  conduct  generally.  In  one 
dwelliog  house  and  grocery  store,  the  property  of  Mr» 
George  Bartoll,  which  stood  a  few  rods  below,  ^nd  in 
front  of  this  depouenCs,  he  saw  the  enemy  plundering,  and 
breaking  every  thing  to  pieces,  and  indeed  by  setting  i 
on  fire  and  burning  it  down.  A  number  of  houses  wa 
set  on  fire  that  were  not  consumed.  A  number  they  on- 
ly robbed  and  broke  the  doors  and  windows.  Among  the 
latter  was  the  churchy  in  which  not  one  solitary  window- 
was  left  whole.  During  the  time  this  deponent  was  on 
Mv.  Scars'  wharf  and  on  board  the  barges  liQ  solicited  for 
the  prisoners,  citizens  of  the  town,  to  be  set  at  liberty--' 
naming  those  thai  he  iiaunediately  saw  and  knew.  Among 
which  was  James  Sears,  a  youth  of  about  seve^'cen,  and 
John  O'Neil  a  naturalized-  Irishman — both  of  which 
in  the  most  positive  manner  was  refused.  And  as  soon  ajs 
O'Near  sname  was  mentioned,  the  ofilcer  to  whom  the  ap* 
plicatioqi  was  made  replied.  No — swearing  he  w(Hild  have 
O'Neal  hung  if  he  could.'  O'Neal ^as  since  been  dis- 
chpirged  on  parole.  Thi^  deponent  declares  he  has  np 
%nowledge  of  any  flag  of  truce  being  sent  by  the  British 
nor  does  he  believe  there  was  any. 

R.  MANSFIELD.2^ 
J      Sworn  to  this  twenty -fifth  day  of  June,  1813,  before 

ELIJAH  DAVIS. 


.  .1: 


:  "^  ■^':. 


-«,■?«¥•■?=''>■, 


No.  VIII. 


« 


J 

■  Si 


I  ■ 


■i.f;     » 


^n 


OUTRAGES  AT   UAIVirTON. 


Sxtractefa  leUcr  from  General  Taylor  to  Admiral 
Warren,  dated  Head  Quarters,  Norfolk,  2Qth  June, 
1813. 

"  I  have  heard  with  grief  and  astonishment  of  the  ex- 
cesses, both  to  property  and  persons,  committed  by  the 
land  troops,  who  took  possession  of  Hampton. — The  res- 
pect I  entertain  for  your  personal  character  leads  me  to 
make  known  these  excesses.    It  would  not  become  me  t« 


■\: 


... 
(I 


ii 


1  ■,: 


^'»^%ft\' 


I  1 ,,  »    ••■ 

.1.  ■'! 


'O, 


\f 


iOO 


JBAHBARITIMS  OF 


suggest  what  course  of  enquiry  and  puciisljmcnt  is  due  to 
Ihe  honor  of  your  arms, — But  the  world  will  suppoiie  those 
acts  to  have  been  approved,  if  not  excited,  Avhich  are  pass- 
ed, over  with  impunity.  I  do  not  however  deprecate 
ii:\\y  measurts  which  you  may  think  necessary  or  proper 
~rbut  am  prepared  for  any  species  of  warfare,  whii:h  you 
may  be  displayed  to  prosecute.  It  is  for  the  sake  of  hu- 
manity I  enter  this  protest. 

"  We  are  in  this  part  of  the  conutry  merely  in  the  no- 
viciate cf  our  Avarfure.  The  chaructor  it  wilt  hereafter 
assume,  whether  of  mildness  or  ferocity,  will  materiall): 
depend  on  Ibc  first  operations  of  ovtx  arms  and  on  the  perw 
sonal  character  and  dispositions  of  the  respective  com- 
manders. For  myself,  I  assure  you  most  solemnly,  tiiat 
I  neitltc^  have  aitthorized,  nor  will  sanction  any  outrage 
on  humaoity  cr  the  laws  of  civilized  warfare.  On  the 
contrary,  I  thibk  it  due  no  less  to  my  personal  honorvthac 
to  that  of  my  country,  to  repress  and  punish  every  cxcees, 
I  hope  that  these  sentiments  will  be  reciprocated.  It  will 
depend  on  you  wh^ether  the  evils  insicparable  from  a  state 
of  war,  shall  in  our  operations,  be  tempered  by  the  mild- 
ness of  civilized  life,  or  under  your  authofity  be  agf;ra<- 
vatedby  all  the  fiendlike  passions  which  can  be  infilled 
into  them.'*  ;;;  :r. :  ■<-.. ■  .v'-'  <•  ^ , 


Admiral  Warren  to  General  Taylor. 

Uis  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  San  Dotningo^  Hampton 
Roadsy  Chesapeake  Bay^  June  29,  1813. 

Sir,  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  this  day,  stathig  that  you  had  communicated  U^  your 
government  the  proposal  of  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and 
also  that  some  excesses  had  been  committed  by  the  troops 
ijp  the  late  alFair  at  Hampton.  I  have  commuicated  to 
my  friend,  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  the  commander  of  his 
majesty's  forces  on  shore,  this  part  of  your  letter,  and  he 
will^have  the  honor  of  writing  to  you  upon  the  points  to 
which  it  alludcB. 

'  I.  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that  it  is  my  wish  to  allevi- 
ate the  misfortunes  of  the  war  commenced  against  my 
country,  by  every  means  in  my  power  ^  at  the  same  lime 


■ ;,  ;J 


rr 


'I   '. '■ 


.  ^ 


t    >.■- 


(-'■ 


'•i:<-; 
'•^' 


d  ^     \    THE  ENEMY. 


101 


I  ftm  prepared  to  meet  any  result  that  may  ensue  between 
the  two  oatioDS. 

I  have  the  lienor  to  be,  &c. 
(Signed)  JOHN  B.  WARREN, 

Admiral  of  the  blue,  and  commander  in  chief. 
'    Brigadier  Oenernl  Taylor,  commanding  the  United 
States  forces  at  Hampton. 

A  true  co^.— JAMES  MAUR;ICE,  Major,  acting 
v)  assistant  Adjutant  General.  .  s 

Sir  Sidney  Becktvith  to  General  Taylor, 
■■  His  Majesty's  ship   San  Domingo. 

June  29,   1813 

Sir — Admiral  sir  John  Warren  having  communicated 
to  me  the  contents  of  your  letter,  I  lose  uo  time  in  assur- 
ing you,  that  your  wish  cannot  exceed  mine  to  carry  on 
war  with  every  attention  to  the  unfortuntae  Jodividuals,  in 
whose  immediate  vicinity  military  operations  may  take 
place.  In  this  spirit  I  shall  vie  with  you  to  the  utmost. 
At  the  same  time  I  ought  to  state  to  you,  that  the  excesses 
of  which  you  complain  at  Hampton  were  occasioned  by  a 
proceeding  of  so  extraordinar;'  a  nature,  that  if  I  had  not 
been  an  eye  witness,  I  could  not  have  credited  '♦  At 
the  recent  attempt  on  Craney  Island,  the  troops  in  a  jargc 
sunk  by  the  (ire  of  your  guns  clung  to  the.wreck  of  the 
boat.  Several  Americans,  I  assure  yon  most  solemnly, 
winded  off  from  the  island,  and  in  presence  of  all,  engaged, 
iired  upon,  and  sliot  these  poor  fellows.  With  a  feeling 
natural  to  such  a  proceeding  the  men  of  that  corps  landed 
at  Hampton. 

-  That  occurrences  of  that  kind  may  never  occur  again , 
and  that  the  troops  of  each  nation  may  be  guided  by 
sentiments  of  honor  and  humanity-  is   the  earnest  wish  of 

yours,  &c. 
^  (Signed)  .  SIDNEY  BECKWITH, 

\  Quarter  Master  General. 

Brigadier  General  Taylor,  commanding  the  United 
States,  troops  at  Norfolk. 

,      A  true  cojjy.— JAMES  MAURICE  Major, 
acting  assistant  Adjutaoit  Geoeral. 


/>    .1    ; 


—      '     v»^ 


,v 


^-t: 


1'^ 

fi, 


•1  i;'  '♦ 


^h 


il 


}■ 


m 

1^ 

;    Hi 

ill 

; , 


.  1 ' 


( 


h 


1*'^  > 


102  ^   •    >     ;f      BARBARITIES  OF       ^:; 

ffcflrf  Qwarffr*,  2V(W/o/Ar,  J«(j/ 1,  1813. 
Sir — It  afTorda  me  llie  highest  satisfaction  to  receive 
your  assurance  that  you  wish  "  to  carry  on  war  with  ev- 
ery attention  to  the  unfortunate  individuals  in  whose  im- 
mediate vicinity  military  operations  may  take  place." — 
Such  sentiments  can  alone  gi%'e  splendor  to  courage  and 
confer  honor  on  military  skill.  Worthless  is  the  laurel 
steeped  iq  feniuile  tears,  and  joyless  the  conquest  which 
have  iaiflicte4  (icedlcss  woe  on  the  peaceful  and  unresist- 
ing. The  franki^ess  with  which  you  admit  the  excesses 
at  Hamptoii  is  a  guarantee  against  the  repetition.  ^ 
I  canoot  doubt,  sir,  your  conviction  that  the  scene  des- 

■  cribed  by  you  at  Craucyjsland  was  really  acted.  But 
by  the  very  reason  it  appeared  to  you  incredible  and  in- 

'  human,  it  should  have  been  unauthorised.  Your  own 
preceptioEi  of  propriety  shall  decide,  if  facts  should  not 
haveJbeeu  ascertained  and  redress  demanded,  before  retat- 
iatioQ  w«s  resorted  to,  a  retaliation  too  extravagant  in  its 
measure,  applying  not  to  the  perpetrators  of  the  alleged 
olTcnce  on  their  comrades,  but  to  the  innocent  and  help- 
less. I  have  reason  to  think  that  you  are  mistaken  in 
your  impressions  of  the  conduct  of  our  troops  at  Craney 
Island — that  they  waded  into  the  water,  on  the  sinking  of 
your  boat,  is  true — but  I  learn  that  it  was  for  fhe  purpose 
of  securing  their  conquest  and  assisting  the  peiishiug — 
one  person,  perhaps  more,  was  shot,  but  it  was  only  for  a 
.continual  eAbrt  to  escape,  after  repeated  ofers  of  safety 
on  surrender— ^ch  at  least  is  the  representation  made  to 
me.  If  however  your  yielding  troops  have  bee«  butch- 
ered,  it  is  due  to  the  honor  of  our  arms  to  disclaim  and 
punish  the  enormity.    The  fame  of  my  country  shall  nev- 

^  er  be  tarnished  by  such  conduct  in  the  troops  under  my 
eommaad.  I  have  to-day  ordered  an  enquiry  into  the 
facts,  by  a  board  of  field  officers — proper  measures  shall 
be  taken  to  punisl^  whatsoever  of  impropriety  may  have 

.,  been  committed.  I  flatter  miself  you  irill  perceive  in 
these  measures  a  dispositioB  to  afford  no  cause  of  re- 
proach in  any  future  conflict*    When  w^e  meet,  let  us  conx- 

i;  bat  as  soldiers,  jealovs   of  the   honor  of  our  respective 

'^,  couniri«s»  ankious  to  surpass  each  other  as  well  iu  ma^r . 

'  lianin^ty  as  incouragev  -        .  ;   -   :  -    v  ' 


■n 


•t'V. 


S.^y.-:^:.    ■ 


'I 


♦.ri ' 


•>  -v: 


'I  «: 


^  THE  EJVEMY. 


•A- 


lOlT 


high 


consideratioB 


:  Accept,  »ir,  the  assurance  of  my 
and  respect, 

(Signed)  ROBERT  B.  TAYLOR.    . 

Brig.  Gen.  comroauding. 
To  Sir  Sydney  Bcckwith^  Q.  M.  General  commanding 

the  land  forces  of  H.  B.  M.  Hampton  Roads. 

-  js-     '    ^'  A    COPY, 

aV^-.  %  JOHN  MYRES,  Aid-deCamp. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Br^.  General  Taylor  to  the  Se- 
'       .       '*' j  cretary  of  Wart  dated, 

N&rfolk,idJuly,l9\3, 

I  CDcloscd,  as  was  promised  yesterday,  copies  of  the 
letters  written  to  Admiral  Warren  and  Gen.  Beckwith. 
My  aid  who  carried  them  duwn  yesterday,  brought  back 
a  letter  from  Admiral  Warren,  of  which  a  copy  is  enclos- 
ed, and  has  made  a  statement  of  what  occurred  in  hi^ 
conference  with  the  General. 

The  letter  of  (he  Admiral,  though  polite,  is  certainly 
not  ro^nsive  to  any  thing  which  lias  occurred  ;  and  the 
conversation  with  the  General,  though  equally  civil,  is 
obviously  designed  to  prevent  any  further  discussion  of 
the  subject.  From  the  report  of  prisoners  and  deserters, 
ihere  is  too  much  reason  to  believe,  that  before  the  attack 
on  Crancy  Island,  the  cupidity  of  the  troops  had  been  ex- 
cited by  a  promise  of  the  pillage  of  Norfolk  ;  to  inflame 
their  resentments  after  their  failure,  and  to  keep  alive  the 
hope  of  plunder  at  Norfolk,  there  is  much  reason  to  fear 
that  our  troops  have  unmeritcdl|^  been  charged  with  mis- 
conduct at  Craney  Island,  and  that  made  a  pretext  fcr 
their  excesses  and  their  conduct  at  Hampton.  I  entertain 
no  doubt  of  the  justification  of  the  honor  and  magnanimi- 
ty of  our  men,  by  the  report  of  the  board  of  officers.-^— - 
I  do  dot  mean  that  the  subject  shall  drop,  but  when  I 
c(Mnmunieate  the  report,  I  shall  leave  the  British  Com- 
mander the  alternative,  either  of  adopting  similar  meas- 
ures in  his  own  army  or  remaining  under  the  imputation 
of  having  excited  their  troops  to  commit  these  excesses. 
Our  tjroops  are  highljr  inflamed.  ^•^:/ 


,-^ 


IJ 


•i^i 


%i 


r 


^T' 


^^ 


t,i*t- 


:Vr-/i-. 


104 


-^  p^ 


BARBARITIES  OF 


V-.- 


t'A    '■'" 


>  .■'. 


Notes  for  captain  Mitres  in  his  interview  with  Admiral 

Warren. 

A  defenceles&  and  unresisting  toiirn  has  been  given  up 
to  indiscriminate  pillage — though  civilised  war  tolerates 
this  only  as  to  fortified  places  carried  by  assault,  and  af- 
ter summons. 

Individuals  have  been  stripped  naked — a  &ick  man 
stabbed  twice  in  the  hospital-a  sick  man  shot  at  Pembroke 
in  his  bed,  and  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  long  after  the  de- 
feat of  the  troops — his  wife  also  shot  at  and  woimded,  a 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirby. 

Females  have  been  not  only  assaulted  and  personally 
abused  and  struck— but  even  violtted. 

If  occasion  offers,  notice  may  be  incidentally  made  of 
the  information  given  by  prisoners  and  deserters  of  the 
promise  to  plunder  at  J^orfolk. 

As  to  the  imputation  on  our  troops  at  Crany  Island,  if 
admiral  Warren  should  mention  it,  deny  the  fact  and  state 
the  actual  conduct  of  our  troops,  in  going  into  the  water 
to  assbt  their  men,  and  then  giving  them  refreshments  as 
soon  as  they  entered  the  fort.  Refer  to  the  conduct  of 
nil  our  prisoners,  particularly  those  taken  from  the  boalt 
of  the  Victorious. 

JKO.  MYRES,  Cap.  and  Aid-de-camp. 

■    \t' 

(COPY.^ 

Head  Quarters,  Norfolk,  July  2d,  1813. 

Sir— -In  Obedience  to  your  orders,  I  proceeded  yes- 
terday with  a  flag  of  truce  to  admiral  Warren  in  Hamp- 
ton Roads,  to  whom  I  handed  both  the  dispatch  for  hiro- 
aelf  and  that  for  sir  Sydney  Beckwith.  The  admiral  re- 
ceived me  with  civility,  and  with  many  acknowledgments 
for  the  terms  of  your  letter.  Sir  Sidney  was  on  shore  at 
Old  Point  Comfort.  Feeling  some  diinculty  about  the 
propriety  of  delaying  on  board  for  his  arrival,  I  was  sbout 
to  depaat,  but  adroh'al  Warren  expressed  a  wish  that  I 
would  remain,  saying  that  he  would  desire,  no  doubt,  to 
give  a  reply. 

Sir  Sydney  did  not  arrive  'till  8  o'clock.  He  express- 
ed great  respect  for  the  motives  that  had  actuated  you,  sir, 
in  the   lit  ^sures  which  you  were  pursuing — they  were 


the 

.lit-sures 

which 

■  .  .^   - 

■:\. 


•1,  •^■ 


.  r 


^?V'-,. 


4j 


:y^^ 


71  HE  ENEMY. 


'i' 


105 


tnore  thaiilie  desiffed— -k  ivas  suf&cieht,  lie  said,  if  your; 
own  nilud  was  satisfied.  He  expressed  regret  at  the' 
trouble  you  had  takea^  and  much  deference  for  your  char- 
Hcter— with  a  resolution  to  yie  with  you  iaeiSortstocon'^ 
line  future  operations  within  the  bounds  of  humaoity  anid 
the  usages  of  war.  He  said,  in  allusion  to  the  pretended 
conduct  of  our  men  at  Craney  Island,  that  it  proceeded 
no  doubt  from  a  few  of  the  more  disorderly.  I  denied  the 
charge  altogether,  as  I  haddoaeinmy  previous  interview, 
^vliea  it  was  made  the  justification  of  their  outrages  at 
Hampton,  on  the  ground  of  retaliation. 

I  found  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  give  to  your  de- 
.spatch  a  written  reply.  By  the  light  manner  in  which  be 
glanced  at  the  subject  of  your  investigation,  I  could  per- 
ceive that  it  was  pressed  farther  than  was  desirable  to 
kirn.  It  was  my  wish  howev^  to  be  able  to  report  to  you 
the  probability  of  a  like  coui^e  of  enquiry  on  hia  part,  and 
I  enumerated  the  catalogue  of  abuses  and  violence  at 
Mampton.  I  meotioiied  the  pillage  of  the  town,  and  the 
wanton  destruction  of  medicine.  That  individuals  had 
keen  stripped  naked.  A  sick  man  stabbed  twice  who  was 
in  the  hospital.  A  sick  man  shot  in  his  bed  at  Pembroke 
and  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  who  was  also  shot  at  and  wound- 
ed, long  after  the  defeat  of  the  troops,  a  Mr.  an^  Mrs. 
Kirby — and  finally  the  assault  on  females,  their  being 
struck  and  personally  abused  and  even  violated. 

At  the  mention  of  the  murder  of  Kirby  and  the  wound 
given  to  his  wife,  sir  Sidney  distinctly  admitted  it.  The 
others  he  appeared  not  to  be  acquainted  with  the  partic* 
ulars  of,  and  expressed  some  concern  at  it.  He  said, 
that  he  had,  however,  on  coming  to  a  knowledge  of  their 
conduct  immediately  ordered  the  embarkation  of  the 
{j'oops  that  were  concerned,  widi  a  determination  that 
they  should  not  again  Ian '  and  that  while  he  was  unable 
to  control  a  past  event,  the  responsibility  of  a  recurrence 
should  rest  on  himself.  That  the  troops  under  his  com-  , 
mand  were  strangers  to  him  on  lus  arrival  liere,  and  ap- 
pealing to  my  knowledge  of  the  nalure  of  the  war  in  Spain, 
in  which  these  men  (meaning  the  French  corps)  he  said 
had  been  trained. 

Thus  far  be  thought  he  could  not  give  a  «ore  convinc- 


1-:'  ^ 


1  '» 


.'  ,r 


-f... 


.^    I 


^I^M 


1 

t  ■  ■» 


:/' 


%     10©    V^ 


BARBABITIES  OF 


i     V 


ing  proof  of  the  sincerity  of  his  professions  tliau  in  the 
urithdrawal  of  these  troops,  and  that  he  had  moreover 
juat  been  employed  in  finding  a  new  watering  place  on 
Back  river  in  order  to  remove  from  Hanipton  and  to  quiet 
the  minds  of  the  inhabitants. 

He  assured  me  that  in  making  such  a  pledge,  as  he  was 
doing,  it  should  not  be  lightly  regarded — that  he  wonld 
either  send  away  these  troops,  or  wait  the  arrivel  of  others 
tor  new  operations.  He  concluded  by  expressing  a  hope 
that  you,  sir,  would  in  future  use  no  reserve  in  communi- 
cating any  subject  of  impropriety,  and  on  his  part  that  he 
should  certainly  do  so,  with  a  due  regard  to  the  liberality 
of  your  conduct.  l{e  hoped  the  subject  was  at  rest.  I 
tf)ok  my  leave.       I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

JOHN  MYRES,  Captain 
and  aid-de-camp 
Brig.  gen.  Robett  B,  TayUn  Norfolk.  t 

Extracts  of  a  letter  from  gen.  Tat/lor  to  sir  Sydney  Beck- 
withj  quarter-master-generalt  commanding  the  iand force 
of  H.  B.  M.  at  Hampton  Roads,  dated  head  quarters, 
July,  5th,  1813. 

"  I  have  now  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  board  of  officers  convened  to  enquire  into 
the  transactions  at  Crany  Island.  They  doubtless  will 
convince  you  that  in  that  aflair,  the  Ameiican  troops 
merited  no  censure  ;  tlmt  their  conduct  was  distinguish- 
ed by  humanity  and  magnanimity ;  and  that  the  distance 
to  which  you  were  removed  from  the  scene,  by  render- 
ing it  impossible  that  you  could  be  iraformed  of  the  mo- 
tives of  their  conduct,  unhappily  led  you  to  draw, conclu- 
sions, equally  mistaken  and  unmerited. 

You  have  done  me  the  justice  to  declare,  that  the 
meaoures  pursued  by  me,  evince  a  disposition  to  permit 
in  my  troops  no  abuses  on  humanity  or  the  laws  of  civil- 
ized warr  As  I  cannot  doubt  the  existence  of  similav 
sentiments  with  you,  I  have  a  right  to  expect  on  your 
part  measures  equally  decisive  and  unambiguous.  If  I 
had  deemed  it  needful  to  forbid  openly  to  my  whole  ar- 
ray all  acts  of  impropriety ;  and  to  direct  a  public  inves- 
tigation of  charges  believed  to  be  unmerited,  hut  having 


lb 


■',  '.i"?'  •;  , 


■f* 


^^-. 
■.4- 


'>.'■ 


THE  ENEMT. 


167 


(lie  sanction  of  yoar  imputation,  I  put  to  your  candor  to 
ceterniine,  if  cxeesses  in  your  troops,  admitted  by  your-- 
self,  and  someof  tliem  of  the  most  atrocious  character, 
should  pass  unnoticed.  My  conduct  and  your  declara- 
libns  give  me  a  claim  to  ask  that  these  excesses  be  pur*' 
ished.  Your  army  will  then  learn  the  abhorrence  ycu 
feel  for  such  acts,  and  be  restrained  by  the  fear  <^  your 
indignation  from  similar  outrages.  But  if  these  admitted 
excesses  are  passed  by,  the  impunity  of  t\ie  past  will  be 
construed  by  your  troops  into  an  encouragement  of  future 
outrages,  and  your  own  humane  intentions  be  completely 
defeated  ■;  neither  can  you  be  unmindful  of  the  propriety 
of  taking  from  my  army  the  pretexts  for  impropriety  by 
a  knowledge  of  eflfectaal  restraints  on  youra. 

"1  am  fully  impressed  with  the  liberality  of  your  con- 
iluct  in  promising  to  remove  the  treops  who  committed 
the  outrages  at  Hampton  from  the  opportunity  of  repeat- 
ing these  enormities.  But,  besides  that  my  confidence 
ill  the  gallantry  of  the  American  troops  forbids  me  to  de- 
sire any  diminution  of  your  force,  such  a  measure  being 
liable  to  niisconception  by  our  own  troops,  niigtit  not  at- 
tain your  object.  The  rank  and  file  of  an  army  seldom 
reason  very  profoundly,  and,  however  erroneously,  might 
ascribe  their  wUhdl-awal  to  the  desertions  which  have  on 
every  opportunity  taken  place  in  that  corps,  and  in  their 
unwillingness,  if  any  should  have  been  displayed,  to  fire 
on  the  American  troops.  If  this  should  unfortunately  be 
the  case,  your  force  will  be  diminished,  witliout  securing 
the  great  ends  of  discipline  aud  humanity  for  which  ycu 
had  with  so  much  liberality  made  the  sacrifice.  I  am  the 
more  pressing  on  this  subject,  because  I  have  reason  to 
believe,  that,  even  since  your  assurance,  though  unques- 
tionably against  your  good  wishes,  very  improper  acts 
have  been  committed  by  the  troops  on  James*  river.  The 
domestic  property  of  peaceable  private  ctiizens,  respected 
by  all  civilived  nations,  has  been  pillaged  and  what  furnish- 
ed no  allurement  to  cupidity,  hai  been  wantonly  defaced 
and  destroyed. 

\\  **  If  such  acts  are  either  directed  or  sanctioned,  it  is 
important  to  us  and  to  the  world  to  know,  what  species 
of  warlare  the  arms  of  Great  BritaiQ  mean  to  wage.    If 


■s^-. .' 


\ 


^  It:  ■  -  yt 


r- ■^ 


m 


:a 


-  •.^^. 


;  1 


.•     V..''  yv' 


1«3 


BARBARITIES  OF 


;.:   J 


authorized  it  Mrfll  be  of  little  ptacticitl  avail  to  know  t^iat 
the  director  of  teese  arms  entertains  the  most  liberal  per- 
sonal dispositions  while  these  dispositions  remain  dormant 
and  inop^ative.  ;  '  > 

"  If  I  am  troublesome  on  this  subject,  charge  it  to  my 
anxious  desire  that  nothing  may  occur  to  embitter  our 
feelings  and  tho&e  of  our  respective  nations.  In  the  pro- 
gress of  the  war  charges  of  inhumanity  have  Unhappily 
i)een  frequent  and  reciprocal.  I  am  not  indiffevent  to  the 
infamy,  which  such  a  charge  €lxes  on  ihe  officer  who  ci- 
ther encourages  or  peilnits  it.  I  derive  the  highest  sat- 
i>>faction  from  the  assurances  you  have  given  of  similar 
sentiments.  We  have,  sir,  become  enctoies  by  the  sac- 
red obligations  we  owe  our  respective  'countries.  But 
on  the  great  and  expanded  subject  of  human  happiness, 
.we  should  be  friends  by  the  sympathy  of  our  feelings. — 
Let  us  then  cordially  unite,  and  exercising  effectually 
the  powers  with  which  our  govemmeuts  have  invested 
us,  give  to  our  warfare  a  character  of  magnanimity,  con- 
lerriog  equal  honor  on  ourselves  and  on  our  country. 


Extractfrom  general  orders. 
Ast.  aifjt.gcn.^s  fffLceyN(irfvlk,Juiy  1,\%\2.  ^ 
V  The  general  commanding,  has  deemed  it  proper  to  re- 
monstrate against  tlie  excesses  committed  by  the  BritiEli 
troops,  M  ho  took  possession  of  Hampton.  It  kas  been 
attempted  to  justify  or  palliate  these  excesses,  on  the 
ground  of  inhumanity  in  some  of  the  troops  at  Craney 
Island,  who  are  charged  wit^  having  waded  into  the  riv- 
er and  shot^lat  the  unresisting  and  yielding  foe,  who 
clung  to  the  wreck  of  a  boat,  which  had  been  sunk  by 
the  fire  of  our  guns.  Humanity  and  mercy  are  iopt  ^  ara- 
ble from  true  courage,  and  the  general  knows  too  well 
the  character  of  the  troops  under  his  command,  to  doubt 
their  magnanimity  towards  an  um'esHsting  foe.  It  is 
equally  due  to  the  honor  of  the  troops  engaged,  and  to 
the  hitherto  unquestioned  fame  of  the  American  arms, 
for  honor  and  clemency,  that  the  imputation  should  be  in- 
vestigated. "  . 
If  the  charge  be  well  founded,  the  army  must  be  puri- 
fied by  punishment  for  this  abomination.    If,  as  the  com^ 


l..y 


.:  -.r  <:;:'.='..    .  . 


'  --1= 


%f  THE  ENJ^MT. 


^*r-; 


100 


wander  Jjopcs  and  belieyes,  the  conduct  of  our  troow  has 
been  tniscpiistrue^,  tlie  T^orld  should  have  an  atttbcntic 
record  to  jroiel  the  imputation. 

4  !He  'therefore  dt reels  that  a  boaril  of  ofRceiv^  to  conoiat 
of  col.  Freeman,  {tresidentjUeiit.  cpls.  Boykin,  Maeon  and 
Read,  do  convene,  the  day  after  to-morrow,  flit  a  place  to 
be  appointed  by  tlie  prf^gident,  for  the  purpose  of  ioveati- 
gating  these  diarges  aud  report  accordingly. 

^  JAMES  MAURICE,  majOTy 

Acting  (issislant  atfjutant  general. 


tm 


.-df 


:k 


'M 


if**. 


# 


R]ErORT  OF  THE  ftO^RD. 

The  evidence  havinjft  been  gone  through,  the  board, 
afler  deliberate  and  mature,  cqusideration,  do  pronounce 
th^  followlog  opinibti : 

That  it  a|[)ipears  from  the  testimony  adduced,  that  on 
the  22d  of  last  ipoath,  in  the  actional  Craney  Island,  two 
qff  the  enemy's  b<>ftt8  in  front  of  their  line  were  ^unk,  by 
the  fire  of  pur  batteries;  the  soldiers  and  sfiiltii^  who  were 
in  those  |j|P>iit8  Irerc  consequently  afloat  and  in  danger  of 
di-pmiing,  and  being  in  front  of  the  boats  which  were  unih- 
jlir^d ;  t^  disable  these  qurgiins  were  necessarily  fired  ina 
direction  of  the  i^en  in  the  water,  but  with  no  intention 
whatever  to  ^  them  farther  harm  ;  bat  oh  tlie  cont^.ry» 
orders  were  given  to  prevent  this  by  ceasing  \o  fire  grope, 
and, only  to  fire  rpund  shot  v  it  also  is  substantiated  that 
one  of  the  eneiny  who  had  apparently  surrendered,  ad- 
vanced towards  the  shore,  abo!>t  one  hundred  ysrds,  when 
he  suddenly  turned  to  his  right,  and  endeavorrd  tp  make 
his  escape  to  a  body. of  the  enemy  who  had  landed  above 
Uie  I-sland  and  who  were  then  in  view;  then  and  net  till 
tiien  was  he  fired  upon  to  bring  him  back,  which  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  he  was  taken  unliurt  to  theiflan*!*^; 

It  farther  appeara  Ihnt  the  troops  oh  the  Iflaiid  ex^rt- 
fed  themselv(;s,  in  acts  of  hospiiaUty  and  kindness  to  tlie. 
unresisting  and  yielding  foe,  -  ,^^ 

Therefore  Uie  board  do,  with  great  satisfaction,  deela||!r>  | 
as  their  unbiassed  opinion,  th^l  the  charge  alledged  a^* 
gdiinst  the  trpops  is  uni|JUpported ;  and    tli^'  thocharae* 
^^i|pei:l^  eddicj-j-  for  humanity  and  maguani^ 


^■^: 

1    fl 

:  <t^-'-  ' 

'•'J 

^'■' 

-  * 

'll 

'■    r|. 


m 


t  A 


if"*^:*' 


H 

'■'V,' 


'Xf^j^ 


.■  %.■».<-' 


'■ijtt\ 


\' 


m 


?V' 


m 


[:4m- 


■'4j?-: 


i:!i 


;&■ 


h 


m 


BXIp^AjlXtrifiS  OF 


"-  ft 


\ ,-  ■ 


mity  h^B&  giat  beeq  comifiiUed ;  init^^Q  the  cojitrav^  ciin- 

"'  X'  lilTAB,  juD. 

3".  BABBEji,  recor^et.       v 
A  true  emd  correct  ^01^, 

Copy  vf  a  wAeJfm  sit  SyMfy  $iicki6itk  t^gen(ral*J*ay' 

^retuVD  his 'best  acfetipl^j^gejihoQfi  to  gen.  J^  fm 

bfepolfte  eomThuiiicatijcfn,  9^  to  rfeg^at  Eis  eapeat  >;ivi9h 
thattiiifftafy  cpeiatiplQ^  should  ti  dltn^d  onlr^'all ttie 
liberality  and  huniairfty  which  be^fiiieii  th4  rewwct jvc 
haUotis.  Jipy  inhiti^meDt  i>f  the  estabfj^jbte^  ^ttges 
of  war  wiU  IsstaBttyWiiO^ed  U  pun»^r     '    ■ 

Mxtract  f/  a  letjterfrom  brigelii^er  general  Taylor ,  W  ihic 
^'^semta^l  j^wd/i^  d(aett:Mirfi0,^ltkJ^ly^  lais. 
^^  the  bi>ardiif  otficebiSki^£^^4^ examine jthe^ 
lir^^t  against  (M^rtfo^^^^^  kfl%  at  Cr^iiy  I|^* 
aii4  h^v6  my^li^  a  repoif  flsjinvAnieinic«m^;i^ 
sire,'    I  £Qcl09<^^aE  copy  yeateTday  to  the  Jbil!^  -  cogj- 
inahder,  with  a  letter  or  which  acopy  is  'enclosed,    Xhe 
bearer  of  my  dispatch  was  met  by  a  4«^i  the  qfece?  of 
which  i*<5€fycd  th3  dispatch,  and  a  few   Jtowrftja^r  ;;re- 
tutned  with  an  answer,  o^'M'hich  a  f  <|^y  al#  ^  en^ifi^. 
1  fear^  from  thf  gieo^t^atity  of  its  ter^j  that  little  lH§rii9* 
iatioli  of  the  syst^Tin  Jfiithfirto  pr&cti^^d  ja  to  be  e;|pf^d  J 
biit  somfetliing  is  gfti^ed  by  plMn^  the  e.nemy  sapdded- 
ly  in  the  wrohg,  that  lEe  world  i^onot  doi^  l)^  whom 
is  to  be  ascribed  SHiy  €afce8Be$  wliSch  here«^er  Way  if 
commilted  oa  either  aide" 


V 


1 


THEENEJfT. 


ill 


Jt^  9044^13. 

bQr^bod^  #<>«^|bVt  1  TBiB  «U^pt.  AHho<igl»  SlrJSid-^ 
n^  Bcf^f^witli  atsiiipell  IM  tioiLf  ^^^^^  migl^  be 

0iR^  oti  iteaMtk)^  ttieire  irWi^sril^  <!^;|K)di€B  lying 

alth(%h  observed  to  be  drair^  tdirar^  i  qoU  and  in^ 
hospitable  pTOteclij|D.  TKi  jinfortuniae  females  of 
%ffiti$di^7w!iAcoM«tlaot  sttS^red  to 

be  abused  ifi  #eite  9l»llielil>jnaBiier^(^^  ooly  bjr  tlw 
venal  §ttiiigt  foe,  Ibiit^:  the  iuufortitnaiie  And  inlktuatejii 
\Aa^^%m  efici»iuri|ed%  thesa  Ki  their  exc^ssea.^ 

^^^^tif^lpMlhiiik  %  thej»»^  ioflLi^^^tl^^ 
lllid  1i<!C9D  11^  o^l#'^^«  file  Qpint'of  d^th  for  moit 
^^  tt  weeks,  dl0o4^  Up  »t  tbe  saagi 

tlii)B;p^  kinSturm^^^^  i4der  hts(M» 

l^jHi«iiM%rbj  ii:«^fyia^^  welllri^  I9 

mm^  '  :r_--y^'>:'--'  ■■     -"  ■    -  • 

mi^ma,  i  ■■,...,.:■ ,     .  -^ 

f^  I  f*«  jrastetdiw  til  Hamptoo  1^^1197  tiroes,  lh»t 
pUce  haVing  been  evacuated  in  the  lu^^i^  ^y  tn^ 
lili— %^  Ms  bt4iodiv$$  tMtd  1^^  heaniidr^} 

I'h'fi^  f«f  dlnressef  it^jlb^ls  ruitnVti«;  up  in  evci^  dU 
recioo  iO'COngratuh»ite'^\iiS  V  teitrs ireri sheddk^tn every 
torn^ft^the  4o%moui jeW9<^K  mm&iersi^Hy^td  eve^ 
t3f  tl^bui the  bousest  and)  (iTj^ pen  is  aknost  utmiltli^ 
4a<iil^b6lU)^tfae#HMfbt  were  rai^^d  bi^  tfte  abSmdot^ 
^|lt|fiww^f  Chreat  Ood^;  mixd^^^P^^  can  ^ti>n  %^ 
utfe  fo  yvi^^lves  oiir  J^tt^nptoii  feisiiales  seized  lind  trea^ 
ed  ifith  viilj^ce  b;^  thoie  inoostem,  and  n^t  a  s^lHar^ 
American  arm  present  tb  avenge  Uitflr  'Kroogs  ?  Bat 
eii^ugh— I  can  no  more  of  this. 


ri 


Si 

J 


il  'h 


'i  n 

I* 


■T' 


mmmmmm 


W 


aAiRBARITlES  Of* 


f  Tbcy  hay*  received  airehiforceiiieiit  of  2000--rn  all 
S^bo  men,  and  Kprfollc  or  Riehinoiid  ts  their  imineciiate 
a|m'.  Protect  yoursHvai  from  suth  sceata  as  ice  have 
-witnew^d.  They  retired  io  ^reat  coBfudoo,  teaviiijg^  be;- 
bl^4  3000  irt.  beef^  (puBk^t?.  ammtmitioa,  eanteediy  ^c. 
&t  and  som6  of  their  meti^  whom  we  t(|(>k.  ft  is^^ttp^- 
ed  thaf  they  apprehended  an  inpimedtate  attack  from  0000 
of  oiir  men  w|iich  caused  them  t6  le^at  sH  precipitale- 
ly.  Myfiriiend,iest  aBsuTtfdofonl^tlptgf  ^aty^^  cattf- 
not  conquer  AmericaDa^— the^  caitnot  stand  them--^if  we 
jbfid  iSioo  men;  we  should  baVe  XiUed  or  taken  the  great?* 
er  part  of  them^** 

From  tiiesdme  U  tittsflMe,  datg^d  Armsiedtts  MUl,'i^<xi^i 

*•  Your  favoTof  the  7th  hiii8jttfthefenr^ceiv*d  throng 
thepoMt^nesa  of  ^l^wr  Chitchfiel^^^^^^^^  fiopnirari!- 

ed  to  itie  at  t^aa  ^lajfte.  I  am  surprhed  to  bear  that  you 
ha^e  among ^ott  a  man  who  Woiilq'^^eadeavor  to  apolo^'ae 
fpr  the  nnprecedeiited  Tilhiiny  iipjd*br<ital  cbhidtict  of  the 
encmj^  iit  Hainptod.  Btf  ai^rir^rf  oiii^/acl/  ii^f  iiM 
whwhi  ii^ermed  yimof^nwl^  fPds;^tmH^UU^' 
',  **  Tou  request  me  to  make  Known  to  you  a  fe#  of  lb« 
^istteialng  particulars  in  a  Wiay  whtcb  will  force  convie-;: 
ilOD  vpon  th6  miiida  bf  the  ^ckdi^tia.  I  will  attend  to 
Jt,  liiy  friend)  Uiflity^u  may  hie  enablieid  to  conftpnind  such 
with  positive  proofs.  At  present  you  must  cootetit  7dur' 
8^  with  the  f4)lowii)g,  itmhdkveHiis'i^ligiouHif'a^  any 
faxt  h(^m4  dtmiah 

Mrs.  Turid»ull  was  put&ued  iip  to  her  waist .  in  the 
waier,  and  dragged  on  shore  by  10  cw  l2of  these^jQIans, 
who  satiated  their  brutal  desii^s  ttpod  her  afler  pilling 
^ffliftr  clothes,  8tockings»  6hoes»  &c,:  Ibia  was  seen  by 
your  nephew  Keith,  and  mai^y  otjlers*  s  Another  caserra 
married  woraan,  hfer  name  unknowif  to  me,  with  her '  in- 
fant thud  in  herarma,  (the  child  forcibly  drag;ged  fr^in 
her)  shared  the  same  fate.  Tw^  youo^  women,  wfU 
\miirix  tQ  many,  whose  nsones  will  not  be  revealed  at  this 


.u 


1^  .^  -* 


f- 


m^'^^-'-^'m:! 


'';'5#^ 


mmmmmmmm 


mm 


UPMP 


I'      ,  «■  t»i .  1 


;bf>'i'':-:'^  . 


THE  ENEMY. 


na: 


tM»e,  suflTered  iii  like  manner.  *Dr.  CoItoiH  I%rson  Ha!*« 
8on  and  Mrs.  HopUos  have  informed  tne  of  those  pariic- 
ulara.  Another,  iu  the  presence  of  old  Mr.  Hope,  had  heii^ 
gown,  &c.  &.  cut  off  with  a  Bword  and  violence  offered 
in  his  presence j  which  he  endeayored  to  prevent,  but  had 
to  quit  the  room^eaving  the  unfortunate  victim. in;  their 
possession,  whano  doubt  was  abused  in  the  same  way.— 
t  Old  Mr.  flopevliiltnd^lf  wa^  stripped  naked,  pricked  with 
}^  ba^cmetin  the  arm  and  slapt  in  the  face  >  and'  were  I 
to  mentioii  a  hundred  cases  In  additioi:  to.  the.  above,, I« 
do  not  know  that  I  should  exaggerate,""  \        ;'  " 

--■;,.  ■■■■.•.    II.    II    III." 

^xiractpom  a  rqjtort  made  to  ma^iyr  Cmtchfiehl,  hy  Thonth 
:4isQriffin  andRobcrt  Lively,  es^rs,  dated 
'  YoRk,4thJuIy,  1B13. 

>;7.f"  Upon  reaching  HilniptQB;  a  scene  of  desolation  acd. 
fc> tM    l^estruction  preseftied.  it^elf--the   few  inHftbitants  we 
ioRindiin!  town»  seemlsd  not  jei  to.  Ikisevt  rncpVered  from 
/  ;4heir  ajacni'^^dismaT-  "and  consteil^tic^  sat  on  every 
'^eounteiiaQCe — reports  had  resfched  usof  the  violence  and 
.,    uncontrolled  fary  of  the  enemy^afiter  they  had  obtained 
possession  of  the  ptace-<r-tbeir  conduit  In  i&me  poises  be- 
ing represented  such  as  would  have  d^graced  tiie  days 
ofyandalism — our  feelings  were  much  exMted,  and  We. 
deemed  it  our  dnty  td  purso^  the  enquiry  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable, suad  arejorry  to  say,  that  from  all  the  informal 
.tton  we  could.  proeurejtVom  sources  too  respectable  to 
perknit>  us  to^  dwbt,  -we  ftfe^  compelled  to  l|elieve  that  iu;ts 
df  violence  have  been  pesp^trated,  which  have  disgrUcect^ 
the  age  in  which  we  live.    The  sex,  hitherto  guarded  bj^ 
^esoldiev^s  honor,  escaped  not  the  rude  assaults  of  supe< 
^or  force,  nor  eouTd  (Bsetee  disarm  the  foeof  his  ferocity. 

*  The  ferm«r  of  these  g«it!en!«»  acted  as  surg^om  to  the  Ac- 
.tachment  lately  BtfttioniHl  at  Hampfon^  anrl  is  a  young  gentle'" 
maa  of  t^e  first  TeiipccttvbiUty;rHtihe  1»tter  i»ptr(ei<40cnt  or^^^t^^  ^• 
cadeiny  at  tbat  plH^,  aiid  sttmcls  deservedly  hi^  in  pnJ^lc^»(i' 
nalioii.  Hrf.  Hopkins  also,  i8>1a(1y  of  very  lughiespeclabil-' 
ity, aodofth^iapiiaiiqiiebtionable veraeity..  y    ,  ,< 

t  This  worthy  old  gentlemen  is  bowing  beneath  the  pressare  off 

age,  being  near  tO  or  older ;  has  a  numerous  familyt  most. i#r 

-^':^      them  sons,  pow  ui  the  service  o«Wn.  country. .  .    ^^  ^ :;" '  ^, ",  * }v 


»:    •? 


J  ■■I 


if 


4 


1*1 

m 


m 


i  ■^' 


'"■  * '  ■-  ^ti 


i 


II.  i 


'  ^:: 


■;■  ■^.■■-' : 


»      .mix         *     1      1     \*  .    *  I     f    -         ■     -J        '  ■    ^  » 


*>•■ ' 


^.»sA. 


■-JV 


%m: 


BARfiAltlTIES^  OF 


^'■"■^• 

■  is     ' 

-''  ...-f' ' 

*•  .1 

Yhe  apoloffj-  that  these  utrocities  irere  committed  fay  the' 

French  soldiers  attached  to  the  British  forces,  now  in 

.  our  waters,  appeared  to  us  no  justification  of  those  who 

-r.f  employed  them^  believing,  as  we  do,  that  an  officer  is,  or 

^  '  should  be,  ever  respomibte  for  (he  conduct  of  the  troo{)ft 

'     uader  his  cdmniand."  ^ 


JK^ 


r^'- 


r 


■c^. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  Sftflttteri, 
diR — Having  just  returned  frotti  Hampton,  where  i 
made  myself  acquainted  with  all  the  particulars  of  Brit- 

i  ish  outrage,  whilst  that  place  was  in  their  possession,  I 
am  requested,  by  many  persons  to  communicate  through 
you,  to  the  publiC)  th^  idaforroation  I  have  given  <A«m.  I 
do  this  with  no  lt^|»|^^  expectation  of  satisfying  those 
who  require  oiUl^testimony  than  Major  Cmtcbfteld's  or 
Captain  Coopriers.  I  too  Well  know  there  are  those  among 
us,whowiirsti^rdoubtof  pretend  to  doubt.  Bttt  as  I  believe 
^is  class  to  b^  few  in  number,  and  insignificant  in  ^ 
public  estima^on  ;  asui  firmly  l)elieve  that  ar  large  majors 
ity  of  all  poUi^J^al  persuasions,  ar^opeh to  conviction  and 

f  leelingly  alive  to  their  country'l  wrongs  ;  I  cannot  wi^ 
bold  Kom  them-^  facts,  wtiqs^  simple  recital  will,  aotfS 
cording  to  their  diiTerent  teai^eJraDient,  inflame  dien»  with 

^jrage  or  fill  them  wtth  horror. 

^  My  name  yoU  are  at  lINrty  to  give  to  the  public,  ot 
only  to  those  wlio  inquire  foi"  it,  a«  yoa  thtok  pvoper.  I 
llave  reason  to  belteTe,  that  those  who  kisoMi  aie^  whe^r 
JFe^eral  or  B^pubpcan,  ^>now  and  adcdowtedge  thBi>, 

';■!  am  Incapable  itif  pub^ing  a  fiilseoood— «iid  1  averj 
that  every  statement  liiconsistent  with'  tho  following,  ho 
4natter  on  whose  authority  it  fe'inadte>^is>u»true'----in'pa»wf 
of  wfaid)  I  solemnly  undertake  b^foKtbewoiitl  to-  iistaEw 

iish  every  fact  cootained  in  it,  provided  any  gentleman 
will  ngn,  his  name  to  a  d^niaf  of  either  of  them.  ,,,^ 

I  wo«i  to  Hampton^  nHth  a  d^^imnation  of  emuiiriilg 
minutely  into  the  truth  oi  iep0B,  which  ir  ibi^d^  lor  the 
^Oiior  ot  a  soldier's  profiessibn  and  of-  human  hatncey  tft^ 
hstte  feimd  exaggerated.    In  the  ilivestigation^  I  resolved 

\  tOidepend  on  the  second-ltittid  relation' of  no  oaej.  where  I. 

}>'^uld  moHOt  to  the  origfaaal  source  of  o^deaeeH^uisinftt^ 


'h^ 


■''■r 


f-M 


V#-;'.'^>^' 


■#-    i: 


l-T 


"^v"^ 


.«'-.-.: 


THE  ENEMY. 


US 


.*; 


in  some  cases  this  was  inpt actieable^  I  feel  it  %  duty 
carefully  to  dutingUisb  Uie  one  dasi  from  Uie  other. 

That  the  town  and  country  adjacent  was  given  up  to 
the  indiHCfli^ioate  phin^ter  of  a  licentious  soldiery,  ex«epi^ 
perhaps  the  house  whece  (he  head-quarters  were  fixed,  is 
an  undeniable  truth.  Every  article  of  valuable  property 
was  taken  from  it.  In  many  houses  not  even  a  knife*  a 
fork  or  plate  was  \e$.  Britkh  Officers  were  seen  by  Dr; 
Colton  in  ihe  act  of  pkinderini^.  a  Mr.  Joneses  store.  Hift 
house,  altluHigh  hevl^aiQed  in  town,  was  rifled,  and  his 
medicine  thrown  into  the  public  street  just  oppoKite  where 
many  officers  took  up  their  quarters,  who  must  have  been 
eye  witnesses  of  the  scene.  The  church  was  piUi^ed  and 
the  plate  belonging;  to  it  taken  away,  although  inscribed 
with  the  donor^s  name.  The  wind  mills  io  the  neighborn 
hood  w«rr  stript  of  their  sails.  The  closets,  private 
drawers  and  trunks  of  the  inhabitants  were  broken  open, 
and  scarcely  any  thing  seemed  to  be  too  trifling  an  ob- 
ject to  excite  the  cu|^dity  of  these  robbers.  Severftl 
gentlemen  informed  me,  that  much  of  their  pluader  ww 
brought  into  the  back^yard  of  Mrs.  Westwood's  house 
where  Sis  Sidney  Beckwitb  eoid  admiral  Coekburta  resid- 
ed. But  I  had  no  opportunity  of  seeiog  this  lady,  who 
it  was  said  would  testify  to  the  fjaet.  In  shOTt,  Haaippton 
exbibitB  a  dreary  and  desolate' appearance  which  no 
Amctioan  cao  it  itnee^  umnoved.  Br.  War dl«w  md  Mr. 
John  &.  3mith,  of  this  city,  visited^  it  in  company  with 
mei  aad>  their  indignation  waa  equal.  They,  and  every 
one,  who  saw  and  heard  what  I  have  stated,  iwited  in  ex- 
ecrating the  Rioosters  who  perpelxated  those  enormities  $ 
and  political  distiuction^if  any  existed,  were  lost  Ia  the 
noUeit.  feelings  of  pUy  for  the  sufferers,  and-  a  generouf 
ardor  to  avenge  ttieic  wrongs. 

Here  it  may  be  necessavjir  tonotiee  a  pubBcation,  1 
bffve  Uiis  mrnneot  read  in  the;  Alescandria'  Gacsette  of  ilie 
12th,.  where,  among  other  thing0,  it  is  said'on,  the  author^ 
ity  of  a  "  Gentlenian:whp  wai^ih  Hamption'the  day  after 
the  evacuation  by. the enemyi^r  ^t  it  wasbeffeved theiie 
**  that  nearly  all  th«  plundering  was  comnHltftdby  the  ne- 
)|ii«9;F  andthiathesav^mAngFv^'aiEtieles  bnafQ^ht  totbfe 
IS^iBtie^ea  which  )iad  beuLroqw^d  Id  negro  housejU**^' 

:.'.■  .    '  ■'■'':'''V'*'.'''~y''^  ■.:...  ;':.  ^-  ■  •     .  '•''       •      y-."^'   '  '':  ■ 

-  ■'>'     !^  -■•  -'i  '   ■■■¥''■■■-  ■  ■  ■  '      -  ■    . 


>r-V 


1  ■' 


11 


■■  \  IJ 


•i  i\ 


:V 

-/-■ 

i- 

r 

u 

•A.   * 

'  ■  i 

-1 

h: 

:-<■ 

X 

1 

'^pp^^p 


{ 


*^P"irTT^«w^wii^^iii^p^^iiiPiii 


tid 


BARBAtllTlES  OF 


% 


..■.■*i»V 


That  fome  plundering  may  have  been  committed  by.  the 
negroes  who  (tig  I  was  tnld)  ^ere  eitfbiBUied  and  paraded  • 
ttirough  tlie  streets.  Is  probable  enoligh-*-4iiat  tlie  expres* 
iion  of  such  an  opinion  may  have  been  beard  in  Hamp- 
ton, is  nkewise  probable — but  I  do^utterly  deny,  that  it  is 
believed  there,  by  any  person  worthy  of  credit,  thut 
**  nearly  all  the  plundering  was  committed  1^  thcro.*'    Let 
;  the  getittcman,  then,  who  gives  this  account  state  from 
whom  he  derived  his  information.    Let  him  give  the 
tianies  of  the  Magistrates  who  received  the  plunder  thus 
fonml,  and  his  owd;  and  let  htm  declare  what  were  the 
main  articles  he  saw  brought  in.    I  will  not  directly  baz< 
\,    ard  the  assertion,  but  I  am  veiy  much  inclined  to  believe 
<H^  there  Were  no  magistrates  in  the  town  at  the  time  spoken 
f'     of,  unless  Parson  Holson,  Dr.  Cokon,  or  capt.  Wills  are 
magigtiatee ;  and  with  all  these  geutlemCH  I  conversed^ 
and  heard  oOt  a  whisper  countenancing  the  statement  in 
*'     tiie  Alexandria  paper.    How  it  is  known  that  the  negroes 
^^^ad  the  address,  nrst  to  impose  on  the  British  command- 
ers, an<d  then  oti  the  '  Attterican  troops,  which.  '^  induced 
them  to  retreat  to  Vork,"  and  leave  Hampton  to  be  pluni- 
dered  by  these  artfol  rogues,  that  gentleman  is  left  to  say 
— ^but  that  the  American  troops  6id  not  retire  to  York,  i» 
consequence  of  sitch  information,  is  undoubtedly  true. 
Nor  il  it  leal  true  Uiat  captain  Cooper^s  troops  arrived  in 
•time  to  prevent  any  j|>hiBdering  of  the  least  conscquen'^e, 

V  after  the  eva<HiatioiQr-*-and  in  time  to  prevent^— wliat  many 

f^    entiemen  there  believed  to  have  been  a  plan  concerted 
etween  the  bfack  and'  wlntealHes-^the  finng  of  the  town . 
:     That  '*  admiral  Warren  expressed  his  regret  that  the 

V  inhabitants  of  Hampton  had  not  all  remained,  as  in  that 
case  no  plundertng  would  have  happened,^'  is  possible 
enough;  Since  it  admit$  thefkct  of  the  plundering,  and  is 

_  Gonforn»ble  with  the  answer  givetf  to  capt.  Wills, 
^ 'who  complained  to  Cockburn  and  Beckwith  of  the  de- 
struction of  his  private  property.  "Why  did  you  quit 
your  house  ?'*  said  these  honorabie  mem  "  I  remained  in 
iay  house,**  answered  Boctbr  Cotton  "  and  have  tbund  no 
better  treatment.^ 
f'  That  Kirby,  who  for  seven  weeks  or  mote  bad  been 
eoBii])jBd  tQ  his  )}ed,  and  whooe  death  the  ssivages  ooly  a 


■■!*r- 


:■#: 


* 


S^.J-k. 


ir 


THE  ENEMY. 


**/ 


-%lkfl^  hastened,  wfts  shot  in  the  arms  of  liU  wife,  h  notde* 
tiled.  Those  who  wish  for  ftirther  conftnnation,  nay  go 
mid  take  Him  fratti'.Kb  grave,  and  jR^eep,  if  they  can  feel 
9bt  «n  Aneritan  dtisen,  over  ht»  mangled  IxKiy.  They 
may  go  to  his  wounded  wife,  and  hear  her  heart  rending 
tale,  atnd  then  they  may  turn  to  the  aceount  of  the  gentle' 
man  and  derive  consolation  from  the  excuse  (imick  I 
hivcr  heard  J  **  that  it  was  done  In  revenge  foe  toe  iefu^al 
of  the  militia  to  give  quarCera  to  some  Frenchmeii  'Who 
"Were  On  board  a  barge  that  was  sunk  by  onr  troops  who 
'''bontiniied  to  lire  on  the  almost  drowning  men,  when  mak- 
ing for  the  »hore."  Thiii  vile  slabder  on  oar  troops  w3l, 
I  have  no  doubt,  l>e  met  in  the  proper  manner  by  the  §^1* 
lant  officer  who  commands  them  it  Norfolk*-- But  the 
.  worst  is  to  eome. 

^    I  conversed  with  a  lady,  whoiBe  name  if  Menttoned  ia 

^'capt.  Cooper's  letter j  in  company  with  parsoni^olson, 

'doctor  CoUon  and  capt;  Wills.-  Her  story  was  too  shodic- 

iog  in  its  details  to  meet  the  labile  eye.    When  I  bad 

convinced  her  of  the  object  I-  bad  ki  view  in  visising  h^ 

—that  it  was  djuetated  tnr  no  iitipertinent  curiosity,  but  i  * 

lesir'e  to  know  the  whole  trutb^to  enable  me  on  ihe  one 

%aad  to  do  jiistfce  even^to  an  enemy;  or  ott  the  other, 

to  eleotHfy  my  countrymen  with  the  recital  of  her  auffcr* 

ings — she  discovered  every  tlnng  which  her  coovulrive 

ttrttggles,  between  ehamo  and  a  d«Bire  to  expose  her  bru- 

^rtital  assaiStfnta,  would  permit.     This  woman  was  seized 

%y  five  or  six  ruffians— some  of  them  ebressed  in  red, and 

apeakmg  correetty  the  English  language — and  stripped 

nak^d.    Her  cries  and  her  prayers  were  disregarded,  and 

'^lier  body  became  the  subject  of  the  most  abomiijiable  in- 

ii; Indecencies — She  atonfe  time  made  her  escape,  afid  runln' 

^  io  a  creek  hard  by,  followed  by  »  young  daughter;  whenvho 

'^aa  dragged  by  th6  moiisters  in  human  shape,  to  expeii^ 

ence  nev^  and  aggravated  sufTerings.    In  this  situatioli 

^Ithe  was  kept  the  whole  night,  whilst  her  screams  were 

^t^lieard  at  fntervalF  by  some  of  the  Americans  in  town, 

^%bo  could  only  clasp  their  bands  in  hopeless  agony.        '% 

I     Virginians !  Americans  f  Friend  or  Eaemy  of  the  Ad- ' 

/^ministration,  or  of  the  War  I  Go,  as  I  have  d*>ne  to  this 

^^eman'i  boose,  and  hear  and  see  b€r.  See  too  her  young  ^^ 


..^'t:_:t/<. 


M 


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n-?s 


;1'^.^M  ■:■    BAEBARITIES  OF 


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,  V  J" , 


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^Jaugfaieroo-tbe  bed  of  sicknes,  io  consequeoceB  t>f  tlie^ 
pibuses  of  that  Bifbtt  and  your  hoart,  if  it  be  made  of 
*^  penetrable  stttfl^"wilt  throb  with  indfji^nation  and  a  tbirst 
i^r  reyenge,  and  foax  band  ioBtinctively  grasp  the  weapo»  . 
IbrinfflcdngH. 

:  A  Mv9.  Brigi^  related  to  us,  that  a  voman  who  had 
€oineto£[ampton  to  visit  her  husband  who  was  in  the  mi- V 
fitia,  jras  j^oncibiy  torn  from  ber  a&de  by  four  soldiers  dress^ 
'ed  ly  g^eea,  and  with  her  joung  child,  which  one  of  th^n 
puMtched  lr«m  her  arms^  boni  to  the  hospilal,  in  spite  of 
ber  screaaii.  They  had  prcTiousIy  robbed  them  c^ 
^ir  rings,  ai|d  attempted  to  tear  open  their  bosoms.  A' 
Mrs.  Hopkins,  who  was  not  in  town  when  I  was  there,  obr'^^ 
taioed  the  awistance  of  an  oft^er,  rnd  rescued  the  wo- 
man. |rom  her  ravisbers ;  but  not  u^til  one  of  then  had 
jgrat|fted  Ms  i^mlipible  d^^         ^^  -- 

I  was.  told  by  tie  gentleman  who  a^c  >mpaniedme,that 
lirs.  H6|>kins  confirmed  this  statement,  and  wouid  swear 
to  at  least  to  two  other  cases  of  a  similar  kind,  without 
wever  giving  i^  the  naraes  of  the^ouiiig'  and  respeeUh 
iromen  who  sulSered.  •   f 

doctor  Cokon  tind  captain  W3Is,  assisted  by  an  ofSceis 
rescued  another  lady  from  the  greatest  of  all  caiamities.  4 
Old  Mr;  Hope,  aged,  as  he  told  major  Crutchfield  (ia 
my  presence)  Q4  or  5  years,  was  seized  by  these  wretch- 
es and  strH>ped  of  all  his  clcKthiog,  ev«n  of  his,  shoes  and 
his  shirt.  A  bayonet  was  run  a  Ktfie  way  into  his  arm 
behind,  as  if  in  cruel  sport ;  while  several  wer»  lield  to  his 
breast.  In  this  situation  he  was  kept  for  a  considerable 
time,  and  would  probably  have  been  apoUier  victim  to 
their  rage^  if  their  attenticm  had  not  been  .diverted  to  a 
woman,  who  had  sought  refuge  iu  his  iKmse.  The^r  fol- 
lowed her  into  tne  kitchesi,  whither  she  ran  tbr  safety* 
Mr.  Hope  made  off  amidst  her  agonizing  screams,  an4^ 
when  he  returned  to  his  house,  he  was  told  b;|'  his  domes- 
tics that  their  horrid  purpose  was  accomplished.  TMs  i 
had  from  him.  /»;%* 

How  far  this  violation  extended  will  never  be  knoi^n. 
Women  will  never  publish  what  they  consider  their  own 
shame — and  the  men  in  town  were  carefully  watched  aud 
guarded.    Sut  enoughs  as  kiiowu  to  induca-the  belief  df 


..:! 


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w. 


the  existeoce  of  many  other  cases,  and  enough  to  fire  eT'> 
ei7  manlj  bosom  witb^e  irrepiessible  desire  of  rerenge. 
p  I  am  ^noi  disposed  to  tire  the  public  patience,  or  I 
eould  tell  of  enormitieit  little  inferior  to  the  above.  But 
the  enemy  are  convicted  of  yobbery,  rape  andrmmrder- 
and  it  xi  uanecessary  to  add  to  Ae  catalogue  of  their 
crimesi 

Men  of  Virginia !  well  you  permit  all  4hi8  ?  FaAeiv," 
and  brothers,  and  husbands,  will  you  fold  ycur  arms  in 
apathy,  and  only  curse  your  deepoilers  ?  No,  you  will  ffy 
with  generous  ernulauon  to  the  unfurled  standard  of  your 
country  f  you  will  imitate  the  example  of  those  g€nerou8 
gpiritsj  who  are  even  now  in  crowds  tendering  their  servi- 
ces to  the  commander  in  chief :  who  are  pouring  from 
their  native  mquDtaiDs ;  and  soliciting  to  be  led  againpt 
tlie  enemy  whereever  he  dares  show  bis  face.  You  wftl 
prove  yourselves  worthy  of  the  immortal  honor,  th^t  the 
enemy  has  conferred  upon  you  in  ielecting  you  as  the 
obgect  of  his  vengeance. — You  will  neglect  for  a  time  all 
civil  pursuits  and  devote  younelves'  to  the.  art,  alcnowl^ . 
edge  of  which  the  enemy  has  made  uecessaiy .— You  wifl ' 
learn  to  command  ;  to  obey  /  and  witb  "  Hampton'*  as 
your  watchword— to  conquer. 


,-5<4;  . 


■yif 


-:V. 


■*. 


'    Believed,  upon  good  authoii^,  tQ  be  colonel  Riobaf^ 
E.  Parker,  of  Westmorland  county,  Virginia. 

York,  4th  JFvLT,  1813. 
'  SiR-*-Anxiou«  to  effect,  as  eariy  as  possiUle,  the  db* 
jecH  of  the  flag  entrusted  to  m  by  yoU  on  the  1st  instji 
W6  proceeded  immediately  after  receiving  your  dispatches 
for  admiral  Warren  and  general  Taylor,  to  Hampton.  On 
our  arrival  at  the  latter  place,  some  dilfeculty  arose  ia 
procuring  a  vessel  to  coDVey  us  to  the  British  fleet  \  ana 
after  some  delay,  we  were  compelled  to  embark  in  a  small^ 
open,  four-oared  boat,  the  only  one,  it  seemed,  w|dch  the 
fury  of  the  eneuy  had  left  capable  of  ftoatiij^.——- 
We  proceeded  to  th'?  fleet  of  the  enemy  wiChthfli 
Utmost  -dispatch  which  *our  little  skiff,  and  the  exec*' 
9iv^  heftt  <^f  the  day  would,  perintt ;  and  wheo  ^^iAn$ 


y.4 


:¥'''■ 


y. 


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■  ■ir 


;^!if  ■.*.■;.  ■■:■■ 


:i«o 


te  ... 


'BAIIBARIT1E&  OF 


'^iiH^^ 


from  the  admiral'B  ship  about  a  half  flii^e,  wert  met  aod 
bailed  by  a  barge  of  die  en^ny,  th|^  0!fficer  of  which /was 
informed  ve  had  despMches  for  admiral  Warre|i.  We 
were  ioyiiiid  into  the  barge,  whic)i1ovitation  we  accepted* 
9$  well  to  relie\  e  ourselves  from  eonfiueraent  on.  board 
our  little  vessel;  to  lighten  as  much  as  posi^bk  the  burihen 
of  our  oaremeq ;  aud  to  proceed  with  as  muich  e^tpedition 
%s  was  pr^ci^cable  to  obtaip  the, objects  of  our  miasion.-rr. 
On  our  arrival  at  the  admiral's  ship  (San  Domingo)  we 
were  directed  to  proceed  to  the  '  Sceptre,'  a  line  of  battle 
ship,  on  which  we  were  informed  4d(niratCockbu»rii  had 
recently  hoisted  his  flag.  Arriving  alongside  bf  this 
ship,  we  were  de^red  by  the  officer  of  the  barge  to  as^ 
cend  the  ship. 

Upon  our  reaching  the  deck,  we  found  a  lai^ge  assenk* 
blage  of  officers- — certainly  a  .  greater  number  than  could 
be  necessarily  attached  to  a  siogte  ship.  J*  the  space  of 
ten  minutes  the  two  admirals,  Warren  and  C^ckburn,  ap- 
proached—to  thf  former  we  delivered  your  dispatches, 
who  upon  perusal,  evinced  embarrassment ;  and  after  a 
short  pause,  said,  that  tlie  principal  object  of  the  flag  ap- 
peared to  be,  to  procure  supplies  for  your  hospital.  He 
was  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Could  not  theses  sup- 
pliea  have  been  as  easily  and  early  procured  from  Rich- 
mond asi  from  Korfolk  ?  We  thought  not.  The  admir- 
al then  said -he  won^d  reflect  upon  the  subject,  Bud  return 
us  an  answer  soon,  and  retired  wiUi  admiral  Cockburnto 
ihe  cabin  of  the  strip.  A  period  of  aboiit  1^  minutes  then 
elapsed,  when  admiral  Cookburn  advanced,  and  address- 
ing major  Griffin^  informed  him  that  the  admiral,  would 
sec'him  in  the  cabin*  !Upon  major  Griffin's  reaching  the 
cabin,  the  two  admirals  only  Mltli  him,  adm.  Warren 
agai9  repeated  the  opinion,  that  the  hospital  supplies 
could  be  as  expeditiously  procured  ^from  Kichmond  as 
from  Norfolk-rr-saying  it  was  contrary  to  tlieir  regiilatioog 
to  .permit  even  ai  flag  to  go  to  JN^orfolk— that  it  was  their 
intention  4o  land  Mr.  King,  who  went  with  the  flag,  at 
SeawcU^s  Point,  and  JQintly  with  admiral  Cookburn  ex- 
pi>ess«d  an  unwillingaess  to  permit  the  flag  to  proceed.- — 
They  were  answered,  that  if  the  flag  was  permitted  to  pro- 
ihe  supplies  coi^d  he  procured  soonev  than  if  th^ 


■.:  '::rP^;  '.  -/'-^  '.-3/ 


.*^':    :;••«■' ^:f' 


p 


"'h' 


:•>;-*(•■ 


-*;• 


rat' iSf fivit^' '  V  ' 


i2r 


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forf 


ftclg  was  eotrnpeUed  to  return — certainly  in  the  course  o£^ 
the  following  day  ;  that  if  compelled  to   resort  to  Rich^' . 
mood,  three  days;  probably  more,  would  pass  before  the^; 
stores  C'^iild  reach  Hampton  ;  that  our  wounded  and  sick  ' 
were  suntering  for  medicine  and  necessaries ;  that   all'^e  . 
medicine,  prirate  as  well  as  public  property, » had  been 
wotonly  destroyed  by  the  troops  who  lately   cajftured 
Hampton*  and  that  the  supplies  absolutely  re(|iiired   for 
the  use  of  the  hospital  could  not  be  procured  in  Hamp 
ton.     The  admiral  said  he  had  heard  that  the  hp^pitaf 
had  received  some  supplies.    He  was  asked  from  wheric 
aijd  assured  it  was  not  the  case. 

Finding  the  adniiral  still  hesitating,  maj.  Griffin 
*  that  the  reputed  humanity  of  admiral  Warren 
major  Crutchfield  to  doubt  that  the  application  for  /ne 
passage  of  a  flag  to  Norfolk  would  be  refused."  Mer 
a  short  time,  major  Griffin  waa  informed  that  the /flag 
might  proceed,  upon  condition  of  returning  along  side  the 
ship,  in  the  same  vessel,  with  the  same  persons,  au<(  with 
no  increase  of  persons.  The  restriction  to  the  sane  ves- 
sel was  combatted  on  the  grIDund  that  in  the  event  ^  much 
ivhid,  the  boat  was  too  small  to  navigate  the  Reads,  and 
thus  (he  object  of  the  flag  would  be  defeated  ;  but  find- 
ing no  relaxation  in  the  condition  probable,  it  was  deter- 
minea  upon  consuHatioii  with  Lieut.  Lively^to  proceed. 
Upon  the  subject  of  prisoners,  admiral  Warren  ac*'i 
knowledgecl  one  only  to  be  !  the  fleet,  takeh  at  Hamp- 
ton. He  deplined  all  arrangements,  and  avoided  all  dis- 
quisition on  this  topic,  faying  l:e  had  opened  correspon- 
cenee  with  gen.  Taylor,  but  nothing  was  decidc(|  i*elative 
to  the  the  officers^  baggage  captured  in  Hampton.  The 
admiral  said,  that  such  articles  as  had  been  found  had 
been  restored,  and  mentioned  th§  papers  of  capt.  Prjor^ 
which  had  been  placed  in  th^Aite  of  captain  Myers,  of 
Norfolk,  and  assured  major  vnfjfin  that  he  would  direct 
sir  Sidney  Beckwith  to  enquire  farther ;  and  if  any 
should  be  discovered,  it  would  be  made  known  to  us  on 
our  return.  We  were  thep  informed  we  might  proceed, 
which  wte  immediately  did  ;*  and  reached  Norfork  afier 
3,P,.M.  repaired  t»gtn.  Taylor's  qiiRTters,  who  directe«l 


'-■\'€ 


W 


.  V  - 


"t>"'r 


V 


^:  Ml 


'A- 


'«%■■ 


»¥!*•*  >«iit4,' 


»  -^  ■ 


'i.-  ■'.'i.. 


^I^^^PBI 


'.i'>;-„t 


122 


1.    W'i'- 


BARBARITIES  OF 


s    si 


the  supplies  written  for  by  the  surgeons.    Returning  on 

:■  the  2d;  we  were,  i^  customary,  again  met  by  a  barge  of 

'the  enemy  and  desired  to  call   on  boaird  the   admiral's 

ship.    We  entered  the  ship  irith  the  oftcer  of  the  barge, 

and  were  received  by  the  captain,   who  enquired  if  we 

ha^  dispatches  for  the   admiral  ?    Being  informed  we 

were  the  returning  flag  that  had  proceeded   to  Norfolk 

the  day  before,  iKe  captain  retired  to  the  cabin,  and  short- 

\]y  returned  with   information  that  we    might  proceed 

when  we  pleased.     This  we  did,  and  deposited  wit  ;  Dn 

Mton  the  medical  and  hospital  supplies  sent  hoi.  NoT' 

Upon  our  reaching  Hampton  a  scene  of  desolation  and 
deVmction   presented    itself— the  few    inhabitants    we 

•   foaid  in  town,  fecmed  not  yet  to  have  Recovered  from 
thei\  alarm — dif  may  and  consterniitioh  sat  on  every  coun- 
tenaiSce — reports  had  reached  us  of  tlie  Violence  and  un- 
contr^Ied  fiiry  of  the  enemy)  after  they  obtained   posses- 
aion  o^  the  place — their  conduct  in  some  cases  bemg  re- 
presented such  as  would  have  disgraced  the  days  of  Van- 
dalism. \  Our  feelings  were  much  excited,  and  wb  deem- 
ed it  our  vluty  to  piirsue  the  enquii^y  as  far  as  practica- 
ble, and  aie  sorry  to  say,  that  from'  ^  information  we 
could  procti-e  from  SOL  *ces  toQ.  respectable  to  pennit  ua 
to  doubt,  we  are  compelled  to  believe  that  acts  of  violence 
have  been  perpetrated,  which  have  disgraced  the  age  in 
which  we  live,     The  sey,  hitherto  gtiarded  by  the  soldier's 
honor,  escaped  not  the  nide  assaults  of  superior  force,  nor 
could  disease  disarm  the  foe  of  his  ferocity.     The  apolo- 
gy t!iat  these  atrocities  were  comlnitted  by  the  French 
soldiers  attached  to  the  British  force  now  in  our  waterr^ 
appeared  to  us  no  justification   of  those  who   employed 
them,  believing  as  we  do,  that  an  officer  is  or  should  be, 
ever  responsible  for  the  conduct  pf  tlie  troops  under  bit 
command.  ,  ,«  :.^'!*^^.^:V,;  .    -     -' 

We  have  the  honor  to  be. 
Your  humble  servants,  u  . 

(Signed)  ^      T.  GRIFFIN, 

R.  LIVELY. 

Hajor  L.  Crutchfield,  coinii*an(!cr  at  York. 


^^Mf^ 


^^  ff ' 


■H" 


it.   "■ 


■%,y 


•'im- 


V-V 


'■/.  .'^^M 


•V'iifi'i.  :-* 


\. 


■,.■... .■iL:v^'Y^-:,./''.  ^•■■'^■■- 


.    ',ij.' 


.;*<^ 


l^\i9^i 


THE  ENEMY. 


'  t^tNi. 


'n'iit.i-itK    I'iv."^'     .  .  .  •     /  ■^' 

Massacre  and  buroing  of  American  prisoners  surrendei^e 
to  officers  of  Great  Britain,  b^  Indians  in  the  British 
service.  Abandonment  of  the  remains  of  Americans  kill- 
ed in  battle,  or  murdered  after  the  surrender  to  the 
British.  The  pillage  aud  shooting  of  American  ciii- 
!V:>zens,  and  the  burning  of  i<heir  houses  after   surrender 

to  the  British,  under  the  guarantee  of  protection. 
Extract  of  a  letter  from  Augustus  B,  Ifooumrdf  Esq. 
-  to  general  Proctor, 

Detroit,  Feb.  2d,  1813.  t- 
xi  **  They  (the  inhabitants  of  Michigan)  have  entertained 
&"€onstant  apprehension  that  ivhen  the  American  forces 
approached  the  territory,  and  when  an  engagement  had 
taken  place,  the  fury, of  the  savage  mind  at  the  sight  of 
blood,  and  in  reflecting  on  the  dead  they  lose,  and  per- 
haips  on  the  retaliatory  treatment  of  prisoners,  or  of  the 
dead,  which  their  cruel  tpode  of  warfare  is  always  likely 
to  produce,  might  drive  tliem  to  an  ignoble  revenge  on  the 
prisoners  they  find  in  the  couotiy,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
it,  who  are  American  citizens.  They  therefore  pressed 
this  subject  on  your  attention  previ(nis  to  the  battle  of  the 
22d  of  January,  1813^;  and  felt  satisfied  with  your  as- 
surance tiiat  yoii  considered  yoiir  own  honor  pledged  for 
their  eiTecfual  protection.  '  r 

"  Since  the  result  of  that  battle,  facts  are  before  their 
faces  which  they  cannot  shut  their  eyes  upon.  Some  of 
them  are  perhaps  unknown  to  yourself.  I  will  enumer- 
ate some  which  I  believe  there  y:\\\  be  no  difficulty  in 
establishing  beyond  the  reach  of  contradiction. 

*'  Firsti  Some  of  the  prisoners  after  the  capitulation  of 
the  22d  of  January,  1?13,  have  been  tomahawked  by  the 
savages. 

^-  **  Second,  Some  of  the  prisoners  after  that  capitulation, 

hare  been  shot  by  the  savages.  k 

**  Third,  Some  of  the  prisoners  after  that  capitulation, 

have  been  burnt,  by  the  savr^ges. 

'  **  Fourth.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  territo^  of 

Michigan,  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America,  after 

the  capitutetiou  have  been  shot  by  the  savages.  '« 

•  /'  Fifth.  The  houses  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 


|H 


i  ' 


X.' 


.»  > 


m^m 


122 


•*••«■%* 


BARBARITiCS  OF 

^ll^rntoiy,  Amencan  citizens,  after  the  capHulation  hav« 
;  ^^^©€0  burat  by  the  MTBges. 
1i'^-[l-':':^*^\Sixth.  Some  of  the  inhabitaots,   American  citizens^ 
after  the  capitulation,  have  b^ea  pillaged  by  the  sa^Ta- 

: ;?.*S1^;-: •    \  ■■■-::' ''^  . Sandwich,  Fm,':^  11813.  ,  : 

€r     Sin-^Vou  will  liave  tKc  gdodness  to  appoints  day  for 
^      tile  purpose  of  adduciog  before  colonel  Proctoi:  such 
^^..npi^f  as' you  may  have,  to  substantiate   the  assertions  in 
;>':r:;yoiir  letter  to  him,  relative  to  the  slaughter  of  the  enemy 'j5 
.^       nck^aed  wounded,  on  tlie  22d  January  last. 
Z';      M  V^  I  have  honor  to  be,  &c. 

v^1?--iP^)  A.  W.  MliEAN,  aid^e-camp.. 

Extract  of  a  leiierfrom  Mr,  Wootlrvard  to  gen*  Proctor,. 

■''■^}Iill:^  "SAHDWiCH,   FEft.    10,1813. 

"  T  had  the  honor  to  receive,  on  the  third  day  jof  this 
month,  a  verbal  message  from  you  commumcated  tb  tnib 
by  major  Mair,  requesting  me  to  procure  aome  evidence 
of  the  massacre  of  the  American  prisoners,  on  the  22d 
day  of  January  last.  **? 

"  I  met  with  only  a  few  persons  at  Detroit  who  are 
iplujibitants  of  the  river  Raisin,  nor  was  it  «lti^;eUief  a 
pleasant  task  to  those,  to  relate,  in  these  times,  the  scenes 
they  have  beheld.  Some  of  them,  however,  appeared 
before  a  magistrate,  and  I  send  you  copies  of  what  they 
bave  stated.  It  will  occur  to  you,  Sir,  immediately,  thaf 
^  >>'  ylxdX  any  6f  them  state  on  the  imormation  of  others,  though 
not  direct  evidence  in  itself,  leads  to  the  source  .where  it 
-  may  be  obtained.  'J  ■''... X"     '  ^ 

^'  In  communicating  your,  message,  iniy.  Muir  added 
i^ething  having  relation  to  American  citizens,  who 
might  be  willing  to  take  the  oath  to  the  king. 

"It  will  be  obvious  to  you,  sir,  that  ki  a  state  of  open 
•  ...  and  declared  war,  a  subject  or  citizen  of  one  ]^rty  can- 
not transfer  his  allegiance  to  the  other  party,  without  in- 
curring the  penalties  of  treason  ;  and,  while  nothing  can 
excuse  liis  guilt,  so,  neither  are  those  inqqcent  who  Uy 
temptation  before  thenu  ^  -  .  ^-    ,  , ., 


4    r  ** 


THE  ENEMY. 


135 


*«  T)^  prindples  adopted  by  the  U.  States  6n  the  sub- 
ject of  expatriation,  are  liberal,  but  are  perfectly  inappli- 
cable to  a  public  ^Qemy  in  time  of  war. 

"  Some  of  the  French  inhabitanfc  of  the  territory  of 
Michigan,  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  Anterica,  have 
been  much  urged  on  this  subject,  and  ate  apptehensive  of 
being  further  troubled. 

*<  I  had  the  further  honor  of  receiving,  on  the  eighth 
inst.  your  verbal  message  by  your  aid-de-camp  Mr.  M* 
Lean,  acquainting  me  that  there  was  no  capitulation  on 
the  22d  January,  and  that  the  prisoners  surrendered  at 
discretion. 

*«  I,  therefore,  beg  pardon  for  that  mistake. 
■'^  *'  The  principles,  however,  of  the  laws  of  nations, 
impose  an  obligation  almost  equally  strong.'* 


r 


.'I 


I    :\ 


r. 


■?■;•■ 


ss. 


4*'  No.  25. 

TRANSLATION. 

Territmy  of  Michigaiti 

district  of  Detroit. 
^    Personally  appeared  before  me,  the  undersigned,  one  of; 
(he  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  district  of  Detroit,  Joseph 
Roberts,  an  inhabitant  on  river  aux  llaisins,  who  being 
duly  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists,  deposes  and  says  ; 
that  on  the  next  day  after  the  battle  on  the  said  river  Rai- 
sin,  a  short  time  after  sunrise,  he  saw  the  Indians  kill  the 
American  prisoners,  with  their  tomahawks,  and  that  tliey 
shot  seyeral,  to  wit,  three,  that  the  Indians  set  the  hoi^use- ; 
on  fire,  and  that  in  going  out,  the  prisoners  were  massa-^^  ^ 
cred    and     killed   as  aforesaid,  that  is  to  say :  three 
were  shot,  the  others  were  killed  in  the  houses,  and   , 
burnt  with  the  houses.     The  Indians  burnt  first  the  house 
of  Jean  Baptiste  Joteaume,  and  afterwards  thatof  Gabriel 
Godfrey,  junr.     The  deponent  has  been  informed  that 
there  were  about  forty-eight  or  forty-nine  prisoners  in  the 
two  houses.     The  deponent  has  seen  dead  bodies  on  the? 
high-way»  which  ihe  hogs  were  tearing  and  eating.     Mr, 
Brunot  told  the  deponent  that  the  Indians  had  killed  those  • 

^.2. 


.r:JA:  ■-:..■ 


.i 

i3 


#;  f': 


-.'■V- 


"^  v:^  , 


i«p 


•  ■\' 


126 


BARBARITIES  OF 


"V.  V    . 


: 


M-^r 


!   > 

U  - 


of  the  prisonen  irho  were  least  woundbd,  and  that  the 
others  were  burnt  alive. 

ADtoine  Cuiellarie  and  Alexis  Salliot,  iobabitants  on 
the  river  Ecorces,  told  the  deponent  that  two  prisoners 
had  been  burnt  in  the  house  of  Grandon,  on  the  river  aux 
Sables.  The  deponent  has  heard  that  the  Indians  had 
torn  out  the  hearts  of  the  prisoners,  and  had  brought  them 
still  smoakiog  into  the  house?,  but  did  not  recollect  the 
names  of  the  informants ;  he  believes,  however,  they  were 
men  worthy  of  credit. 

The  deponent  says  farther,  that  after  the  first  action 
on  the  river  Raisin,  the  Indians  fired  on  one  named  Solo, 
son-in-law  to  Stephen  Labeau,  an  inhabitant  of  the  river 
^ux  Sables,  when  returning  from  the  house  of  Grandoo 
to  Ihs  father-io^Iaw ;  on  his  arrival,  he  hallooed  to  his  fa- 
iher-in-Iaw  to  open  the  door,  saying  that  he  was  mortally 
woanded ;  Stephen  Labeau  opened  the  door  and  told  his 
soa-in4aw  to  throw  himself  on  his  bed,  but  that  in  trying 
to  move  he  fell  dead.  An  Indian  knocked  at  the  door, 
and  Lcbeau  having  opened  it,  received  a  ball  in  his  breast^ 
and  fell  dead.  The  son  of  Lebeau  made  his  escape ;  the 
Indians  fired  several  shots  at  h|m  which  did  not  reach 
hiro. 

The  deponent  says  farther,  that  Bfiptiste  Couteur  was 
killed  near  the  hoir.se  of  the  deponent,  on'  the  day  of  the 
secoul  battle  on  the  river  Raisin,  a  little  after  sunrise. 

The  deponent  says  farther,  that  the  Indjians  have  oftep 
threatened  to  butn  his  house  and  b«rei,iChedid  not  march 
with  them  against  tlie  Americans.    The  deponent  says  he 
is  an  American  citizen* 

:  The  deponent  says  that  several  of  his  neighbors,  have 
told  him  that  they  had  received  the  same  threat.  Other 
settlements  have  been  threatened  with  fire.  The  mills 
and  houses  on  the  river  aux  Reches  were  burnt  hi  the 
month  of  September  last,  after  the  ciipitulatioB  of  De- 
troit   And  further  this  deponent  said  not. 

IJOSEPH  ROBERT.  : 

Sworn  and  subscribed  liefore  me,  the  4th  February, 
1813. 

PETER  AUJPAII?,  J.  P.  D.  D. 


1  ■ 


^    r 


y 


.."* 


::  N    '.  - 


the 


%:iiTBE  ENEMY. 


•■■;■*---,•' 


."N 


w 


,  V  rt 


No.  26. 


ss. 


'^.' 


■■■■i-fi 


Territwif  of  Mjichigan,  > 

district  of  Detroit,     \ 

Be  it  remembered^  that  on  this  daj-,  February  tlie  fourth, 
A.  D.  ooe  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen,  personal- 
ly came  before  the  undersigned^  a  jastice  of  the  peace  for 
the  district  aforesaid,  viz.  John  MDounell,  an  intiabitant 
of  the  city  of  Detroit,  who,  after  bein^  duly  sworn  upon 
the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almigh.y  God,  depaseth  andsaitb, 
that  a  few  days  after  thebatile  of  the  22d  of  January  ia^t, 
(at  the  river  Raisin)  he  was  personally  present  at  the  house 
of  James  May,  esq.  when  he  heard  the  said  James  May 
ask  Mr.  William  Jones,  the  acting  agent  for  the  Indian 
department,  if  there  would  be  any  impropriety  in  purchas- 
ing the  prisoners  from  the  Indians ;  and  that  he  beard  the 
said  William  Jones  say  '  that  he  thought  there  would  be 
no  impropriety  in  purchasing  them,  but  would  not  uiader- 
take  to  authorize  any  person  to  do  so  ;^  that  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  this  deponent  purchased  three  or  four 
of  the  prisoners,  amongst  the  number  was  one  bythe  name 
«f ——<- Hamilton,  a  private  in  the  Kentucky  volunteers, 
who  declared^  to  this  deponent,  that  on  the  first  or  second 
day  after  the  battle  at  the  river  Raisin,  on  the  22d  Jaimary . 
last,  as  he  and  some  of  bis  fellow  prisoners  were  marching 
with  the  Indians  between  this  place  and  the  river  Raisin, 
they  came  up  to  where  one  of  the  prisoners  was  burnt, 
the  life  just  expiring,  and  an  Indian  kicking  the  ashes  off 
hiii  baek,  iaying  *  damned  smi  of  a  bitch .' 

This  deponent  also  further  deposeth  as  aforesaid,  that 
doctor  Bowers,  a  surgeon's  mate  of  the  Kentucky  volun- 
teers, who  was  purchased  by  him  and  some  other  gentlemen, 
stated  to  this  deponent  *  that  he  was  left  to  take  care  of  the 
wounded  after  the  battle,  but  felt  rather  timid  on  account 
of  the  savages,  but  that  he  received  such  assurances  from 
capt.  or  col.  Elliott,  of  the  safety  of  himself  as  well  as 
the  remaining  prisoners,  he  concluded  to  stay,  as  sUighs 
-were  promised  to  be  sent  to  fetch  them  away  the  next 
morning;  that  near  about  day-light  of  the  morning 
following  tlie  day  of  tlie  battle,  the  Indians  came  into 
4he  house  where  said  Bowers  was  with  the  other  prisoners, 
<  and  proceeded  to  plunder  and  tomahawk  such  as  could 


•"  tsX 


\ 

t 

(. 

■ 

! 

! 

i 

'i 


■  <..' 


■■■s 


■i^. 


■-Sifliij^-v 


-,'  I 


28 


BARBARITIES  OF 


^ 


lot  walk;  and  strippiog  the  8aid]Bower8 and  the  wouaded  ^ 
jrisoners  of  all  their  clothes,  that  whUe  the  said  BoWers 
\nd  two  other  prisoners,  named  Searls  and  Bradford,  as 
near  as  this  deponent  can  recoUect,  were  sitting  by  th&i 
lire  in  the  Indiain  camp',  an  Indian  came  up  who  appear- 
ed to  be  drunk,  and  calied  the  said  Searls,  as  near  as  this 
deponent  can  recollect,  a  Madison  or  Washington,  tlien 
s  took  up  a  tomahawk  and  struck  the  ssdd  Searls  on  the 
/shoulders;  that  tlie  said  Searls  caught  bold  of  the  toma^K 
i  hawk  and  held  it  for  some  time ;  that  the  said  powers  ad- 
l  vised  the  said  Searls  to  submit  to  bis  fate ;  with  that,  the 
Indian  gave  him  a  second  blow  on  the  head,  killed^  scalfh- 
ed,  and  stiipt  him ;  during  this  time  the  said  Bowers  and 
Bradford  were  personally  present,  and  being  apprehen- 
sive for  their  own  safety,  that  he.  Bowers,  ran  and  came 
up  to  the  old  chief  (who  sold  him  to  his  deponent  and 
others)  who  took  him  under  his  protection,  and;  was  \eij^ 
kind  to  him.     Thid  depon<6nt  further  deposeth,  that  he  haa 
reason  to  believe  th^  aforesaid  Bowers  and  Hamilton  are 
DOW  at  Sandwich,  and  if  applied  to,  they  could  give  more 
ample  information  relative  to,  the  particulars  aforesaid 
And  further  this  deponent  sayeth  not. 

JOHN  M'DONNELL,     i 
Sworn   and  snAwcribed   at   my  chambers'  in  the  citjf  J 
of  Detroit,  the  day  and  ye^  before  \^itten. 

JAMES  MAY. 


APPURTENANCES  TO  No.  26. 


No.  1. 


■M. 


I"-^ 


"Note  from  Mr.  John  McDonnell  to  James  May^  esq^r^ 

^*  Detroit,  Ftebruary  X,nU^ 

DeaH  Sir — I  had  a  conversation  with.  Mr.  Smart, 
about  leaving  your  house  to-day»  who  had  a  cc^iversation 
with  Bowers  and  Bradford,  lie  observes  that  I  have 
made  several  material  errors  in  my  affidavit  before  you 
this  day.  He  6ays  the  prisoner  killed  was  of  the  name 
of  Blythe,  instead  of  Searls ;  and  mentioned ,  somue  otb<^ 
errors  that  differ  wideley  from  what  I  l\,aye  sworn  to,  so 


MP: 


-  v."  -  ■ 


"'^ 


:<  ^%-:;,. 


.:.:^r. 


« 


THE  ENEMY. 


129 


Ibat  I  think  it  is  a  pitty  BoArers*  and  Bradford's  affida- 
vits could  not  be  had  instead  jof  mine.        Yours, 


,4,- 


James  Mat/i  taq. 


J.  M'BONNEl^L. 


•fS 


<  *  i 


iNo.  2. 


:•■,>• 


Ndlefrom  Mr.  McDonnell  to  Mr.  Lyms^  his  clerk. 

I  Irish  you  to  mentiofti  to  judge  Woodward,  that  appli^ 
cation  is  made  for  me  by  a  iriepd  on  the  other  Bide,  to  re« 
maini^iil  the  navij;ation  opens.  On  thataccount  I  hope  that  he 
Trill  keep  back  the  deposition  that  I  htve  n^ade  regarding 
the  murders  committed  by  the  savages  on  the  river  Raif 
sin,  as  he  has  much  better  testimony  to  eubstaiitiate  facta 
than  what  I  have  sworn  to  on  hearsay ;  and  as  I  am  sure, 
if  the  colonel  was  even  disposed  to  hear  my  application, 
that  affidavit  will  be  enough  to  send  me  off,  or  else  if  I 
was  allowed  to  remain,  Elliott  would  set  the  Indians  o« 
me,       . 


;>'5^. 


jV 


No.  27, 

TRAMSLATION. 


■.•  r(,;f-'..»/ 


ss. 


,sfr-'* 


$Tvrrit€ry  of  Michigan^ 

>/   district  ^  Detroit.      , 

'%    PersonaUy  apppeared  before  me,  the  undersigned,  one 

.  iof  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  di^strict  of  Detroit,  Ah- 

toioe  Boulard,  of  the  river  aux  Raisins,  who  being  sworn 

,on  the  Holy  Evangelists,  deposeth  and  says,  that  on  the 

,    next  day  after  the  last  battle  on  the  river  aux  Raisins,  he 

i, -paw  the  Indians  kill  the  secretary  of  the  American  general, 

^  who  was  on  the  horse  of  the  Indian  who  had  taked  him 

prisoner,  with  a  rifle  shot;  that  the  prisoner  fell  on  one 

side,  and  an  Indian  came  forward  with  a  sabre,  fiuifehed 

him,  scalped  Mm,  stript  him,  and  carried  away  his  clothes. 

The  body  remained  two  days  on  the  high^wny,  before  the 


J 


i 


-J 


n] 


•S»!| 


m 


mki 


t^^' 
.■<(„    ' 


i 


;•  'J  - 


.'S^M 


■H^ic> 


"  «»' 


.'  .1 


..\: 


430 


BARBARITIES  OF 


door  of  the  depooent^and  was  part  eat  up  by  the  hogs.  Af- 
terwards, the  deponeot,  together  with  Fraucois  Lasselle, 
Hubert  Lacroix,  Chs.  Cboviu,  and  Louis  Lajoye,  tooii 
up  the  corpse  at  dusk  of  the  evening,  and  carried  it  into 
a  field  near  thf  woods,  where  the  hogs  did  not  go.  They 
dared  not  to  bury  it  for  fear  of  heiog  surprised  by  the  In- 
dians.    And  further  this  depoueut  saith  not. 

ANTOINEXhisP<   mark)  DOULAND. 
Sworn  and  subscrilied  in  my  presence,  the  5th  Febru- 
ry,  1813, 

PETER  AUDRAIN,  J.  P,  D.  D. 


Wo  28. 

I  hereby  certify,  that  the  next  day  after  the  last  battle 
on  the  river  aux  Raisins,  the  secretary  of  the  American 
general  was  taken  near  the  door  of  the  depoqent;  was 
wounded  and  placed  on  a  horse ;  that  seven  or  eight  Id- 
diaas  vere  near  the  house,  one  of  whom  shotliim  in  the 
head  with  a  rifle ;  that  he  did  not  fall  off  his  horse  until 
another  Indian,  drawing  his  sabre,  strucl^  him  ou  the  head 
several  times,  and  then  he  fell  to  the  ground;  was  scalped, 
stript  of  his  clothes,  and  left  on  the  road,  where  he  re- 
ly /  mained  one  day  and  a  half;  I,  the  deponent,  with  Francois 
Lasselle,  Hubert  Lacroix,  Louis  Croviu,  on  the  evening 
of  the  second  day,  took  up  the  body,  carried  it  to  the  skirts 
of  the  woods,  and  covered  it  with  a  few  branches,  but 
could  aot  stay  to  bury  it,  for  fear  of  tlie  Indians  that  were 
in  the  heighborhood ;  and  on  the  next  day  after  the  last 
battle  I  was  near  the  house  of  Gabriel  Godfrey,  jr.  and 
the  house  of  Jean  Baptistere  Jereaum,  where  a  great  num- 
ber of  prison^'rs  were  xoliected;  and  that  I  heard  the. 
screamfng  of  the  prisoners  whom  the  Indians  were  toma< 
hawking;  that  the  savages  set  the  houses  on  fire  and  went 
off.  his  vH   >c^, 

LOUIS  X  BEBNARd. 

mark  ? 

dit  Lajoyc.  ■  }- 

J)(!iroit,  Feb.  5,  1813.  f 


.jjll 


^.XIIE  ENEMt,  ^ 

No.  29. 


131 


I  certify,  iliat  the  bodies  of  the  Americans  killed  at  th;c 
battle  of  la  Riviere  aux  RaidlDB,  of  the  twenty-second  of 
January  last^  remained  unburied ;  and  that  I  haye  seen 
the  hogs  and  dogs  eating  them»  ■  " 

The  hogs  appeared  to  be  rendered  mad  by  ao  profuse 
a  diet  of  christiao  flesh. 

I  saw  the  houses  of  Mr.  Oerome  and  Mr.  Godfrey,  on 
fire,  and  have  heard  that  there  were  prisoners  in  them. 

The  inhabitants  did  not  dare  to  bury  the  dead  on  ac- 
count of  the  Indians^ 

The  inhabitants  have  been  threatened  by  the  Indians, 
if  they  did  not  take  up  arms  against  the  Americane. 

Michis^an,  February  Qth,  1813. 

(Signed)  his 

ALEXIS  X  LA BADIE. 
■       ^  mark 

This  is  to  certify,  that  on  or  about  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  January  last  past,  an  Indian  woman  Came  to  my 
dwelling  hoiise,  on  the  river  Rouge,  and  ihformed  me  that 
on  the  morning  of 'liat  day  an  American  prisoner  had 
been  killed  in  the  Indian  camp,  and  the  reason  she  assign- 
fd  itor  killing  him  was  because  he  had  expressed  an  ha- 
tred for  the  Indians. 

ROPERT  ABBOT. 

betroU,  m  Feb.  ISU.  '^  «^^^^ 

Territory  of  Michigan,  } 

district  of  Detroit.      ^ 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  the  subscriber,  Aaron ; 
Thomas  and  Agnes  Thomas,  his  wife,  who  both  made  oath^v 
on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  that  the  Indians^ 
have  taken  from  them,  from  the  house  of  Mr.  Atwater,  on 
th^leth  of  August,  1812,  one  chintz  gown,  valued  sevtn 
and  a  half  dollars,  one  calico  gown,  vahied  three  dollars 
seventy -five  cents,  one  calimanco  petticoat  valued  four 
dollars,  one  pair  of  cotton  stockings,  one  dollar  fifty  cents, 
one  pair  woolen  stockings  seventy-five  cents,  one  pair  of 
silk  gloves,  one  dollar  fifty .^<^jpJDiy|t.0Qf  n^^  smiil  trunk  two 


1' 


'.^' 


SS.      '^^■!r 


,:,^.-, 
.^i. 


'?W:  ■ 


^1 

H 


_ 

11 

^  :' 

:  I:' 

c\ 

1    ' 

I  ,,, 

'■■■\: 


•.  ( 


■  ). 


a  -•  {■" 


'.Hi,'- 


:?^^ 


t  V 


); 


■  ^.  '^  ■ 


^  I.- 


132: 


>   BARBARITIES  OF 


hf: 


■■  i. 


; 


dollars,  one  pocket-book  two  dollars,  thread  one  dollav, 
needles  0j  cents,  one  shawl-  one  dollar,  tmtl  cambric 
haudkei-chief  seveoty-ftVe  cents,  one  cotton  ditto  sixty -two 
and  one  half  cents,  one  shiii  one  dollar,  three^fourths  of  a 
pound  of  pepper  fifty  cents,  one  cake  of  chockolate  twen- 
ty-jliye  cents,  one  fan  liifty  cents,  one  blanket  three  dollars, 
one  cloak  ten  dollars,  three  yards  of  check  cotton  ninety- 
three  and  thiee-fourths  cents,  one  shawl  one  dollar,  one 
flannel  lor^e  gown  llii^e  dollars.  On  the  twelfth  Septem'* 
ber,  taker  on  river  Hpii^e,  one  cheenut  sorrel  horse  fifly 
dollars-^saddle  and  bridle  ten  dollars.  On  Friday,  the 
eleventh  September,  taken  on  river  Rouge,  one  other  sad- 
dle, eight  dollars,  one  pair  leather  leading  lines  two  dollars 
fifty  cents,  leading  lines  seventy-five  cents,  one  axe  two 
dollars  fifty  cents,  chintz  patches  two  dollars. 

Sworn  before   nie  at^  my   chambers,    1 7th  September, 
1812. 


(Signed) 


P,  AUDLAIN,  3.  P.  p.  D. 


;      ,  No.  32.  ."  :• 

Letter  from  ihe  Indians  to  the  inh^itants  cf  the  river  Rai- 

in— net  dated. 
The  Huronr  and  the  other  tribes  of  Indians,  assembled  at  ' 
tU9  Miami  Rapids,  to  tlte  inhabitants  of  the  river  Rais- 

FRIENDS!  LISTEN!  ^' 

|f^u  have  always  tola  us  you  would  give  us  any  assistance 
in^Mir  power. 

W«.  therefore,  as  the  enemy  is  approaching  ns,  with  in 
tirenty-five  miles,  call  upon  you  ^11  to  rise  rip  and  come 
here  immediately,  bringing  your  arffld  atongwitl]|  you*  . 
Should  you  fail  at  this  time,  we  will  not  consk'er  you  in 
iiiture  as  friends,  and  the  consequeuces  nay  be  very  un? 
pleasant.  " 

We  are  well  convinced  you  have  do  writings  forbidding 
youtc  a&sist  us. 

Weare  yourfriendi  at  pvesent.  *  ' 

ROUND  HEAD,     "r 

Bv  an  emblem  resenihlinf^  a  hmse.   ^   ' 

^  f  WALK  IN  THE  l/»  ATER.  fe 

\  By  M  embkmn  resembling  a  turtle.  ^- 


(Signed) 


(Signed) 


.M 


m 


> 


X.^" 


•M'B^^ 


^;-;r. 


4i-r^-,. 


TITE  ENEMi:^.. 


138 


tr 


te- 


f.  :|^    -rt:     No.  33— TRANSLATION.  ai^:-p.*.if^ji- 
1^^  of  ^fc;  inhabitants  of,  the  river  Raisittt  dated  Uiv- 

ierre  Aux  Raisins^  (lie  \Mh  of  Nmemher^  1812. 
^0  the  honorable  judge  Woodward,  Detroit^   Riviere^  aux 

Raishis,  the  13/A  November,  1812. 
'.  SIR,-— In  the  emberrassment  in  which  we  find  ourselves 
mtpresentf  on  the  subject  of  a  letter  addressed  to  colonel 
Navar,  on  the  part  of  the  Ilurons  and  other  savage  tribes, 
we  depute  him  to  you  to  represent  to  you  the  situation  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  river  Raisin,  praying  you  to  assist, 
him  with  your  advice  in  so  delicate  a  matter,  having  at  all 
times  had  ^reat  confidence  in  your  great  knowledge. 

We  have  »he  iionor  to  be,  with  profound  respect,   youl' 
di>edient  servants. 


(Signed) 


">  * 


^^ 


v^: 


-^- 


JAdtTES  LASELL.  v^ 

JEAN  BAPTISTE  OEROME.     i  :> 
JEAN  BAPTISTE  BE  AUGRAND. 
FRANCOIS  LASSELL, 
DUNCAN  REID. 
JEAN  BAPTISTE  LASSELLE.*^ 
Extract  froiH  the  reptmri  efemign  Isaac  L*  liaker,  agent 
i^for  the  prisoner^  taken  cft^r  the  battle  of  Frenchtown, 
Jomeart/ 22rf  X8I3,   t»  brigadier^genereU  Winchester, 
dakd  "  British  Niagara,  February  2»i  1 8 1 3. 
♦  "  FoiP  the  gveateat  number  of  our  unfortunate  fellow-sol- 
diers beUig  sent  from  Detroit,  we  ax«  indebted  to  the  ex< 
ertloHH  cf  our  prisoner  feltow-citizeos  there,  who  with  un« 
exampled  generosity  >'hen  they  saw  their  country  n^en  driv- 
en tliough  the  streets  Vk^c  sheep  to  ft  market,  lavished 
their  wealth  for  their  rt  nsom.    Nor  was  the   procuratioa 
of  our  libcTt/  all.    We  Itad  been  almost  entirely  strips  by 
th)i  ladiftots.     Clothes,  such  vm  the  exigency  of  the  occa^ 
sioO'P«:.ittilted  to  be  pre^red,  were  furnished  us. 

"On  th<i  8  th  instant,  colonel  Proctor  ordered  me  to 
p>ftke  out  a  return  of  all  the  prisoners  who  were  killed  by 
tlie  Indians  subsequent  to  the  battle.  Agreeable  to  the  best 
intimation  I  could  collect.  The  enclosed  return  marked 
B,  wiis  produced  by  this  order.  1  might  have  added  the 
gallant  captain  Nathaniel  Gray ;  S.  Hart,  deputy  inspect- 
<ir  g^rieral  $  captain  Virgil  M'Crackin,  of  colonel  Allen's 
regiment ;  captain  John  H.  Woolfolk,  your  secretary  ;  ei^ 

M   ■ 


C^' 


4 


,1- 


m 


m 


V^?*i,"A>" 


^ 


ri 


.1 


\u 


BAllBARttffeS  0^ 


8^11  Levi  Wells,  of  the  7th  United  States  kifaatry  and  jl 
Buoiber  of  privates,  whom  I  fiod  by  subsequent  iDforma«> 
tioo,  have  been  massacredk 

"  The  meraory  of  past  services  tendered  me  by  captain 
Hart's  family,  made  me  particularly  anxious  to  ascertain 
bis  fate.  I  flattered  myself  he  was  alive,  and  every  infor 
Diation  I  could  get  for  some  time  flattered  my  hopes.  But 
one  of  the  last  prisoners  who  was  brought  in,  told  me  that 
the  captain  was  certainly  massacred.  He  was  so  badly 
wounded  as  to  prevent  him  £rom  walking.  The  Indians 
took  him  some  distance  on  a  hotsC)  but  at  length  took  him 
off  and  tomahawked  him.  /  y '^ ' 

*'  About  the  loth  instant,  ait  Indidn  brnu^^htcaptain  M*- 
Crackin's  commission  to  Sandwich-  ih.  m  was  bloody* 
The  fellow  said  he  took  the  captain  unbu.  i,  'xii  soikietime  af- 
ter, when  stripping  and  examining  him,  hetbund  an  Indian 
scalp  in  his  bosom,  which  induced  him  to  kill  him.  This, 
you  cannot  but  be  assured,  is  a  humbug  of  the  fellow's  own 
making,  to  screen  himself  from  the  odium  of  barbarity.—* 
The  captain's  character,  and  the  danger  that  attended  his 
carrying  such  furniture  in  a  disastrous  battle,  give  it  the 
Ue.     •  ■  V  •  -v;t:;;/.^..,i^^.,. 

"  Captain  Woolfolk,  after  having  been  woutided  in  two 
places,  by  some  means  had  got  refuge  in  one  of  i^e  French 
houses  on  the  Raisin.  He  was  discovera  next  day  and 
dragged  from  his  asylum.  He  was  taken  to  the  hov^e  ot 
a  Mr.  Lasselle,  where  he  said  he  would  give  100'  i/l'ars 
to  any  one  who  would  purchase  hira.  Mr.  Lasses  .  ^ii  it 
was  out  of  his  power,  but  he  had  nO  doubt  hib  i  - 1'  er 
would  do  it,  who  lived  at  hand^  He  directed  his  o\f ue^'o 
to  the  house  of  his  brother,  but,  as  they  were  on  their  way^ 
an  Indian  from  a  waste  house  shot  him  through  the  head.  > 

"  Ensign  Wells  was  taken  by  my  side  unhurt.  I  con- 
sidered him  as  alive  until  my  arrival  at  this  place.  Cap- 
tain Nags  tells  me  he  was  killed  by  aPuttawatioiie  Indian^ 
not  long  after  he  was  taken. 

"  Many  fresh  scalps  have  been  brought  in  r .  "e  the  bat- 
tle, and  dead  bodies  seen  through  the  coi*i;t'  ^ ,  which 
proves  that  otheira  have  been  killed  whose  nanica  I  have 
Dot  been  able  to  find  out,  independent  of  those  reported 
10  colonel  Proctor 


r-^'   ■■ 


U    .V 


M" 


.  '\ 


THE  ENEMT.     r  l^ 

*^  This  sir,  is  alUhe  information  I  have  been  atifefo  col- 
lect, coQceroing  thobe  who  are  massacred.  The  fifteen  or 
eighteen  mentioned  in  the  remarks  to  the  return  made  to 
colonel  Froctor,  whose  names  do  not  appear,  were  not 
known  by  those  who  saw  them  killed. 

"  Major  Gsaves  of  the  5th  regiment  of  Kentucky  vol- 
unteers, I  have  been  abJe  to  get  no  information  of  i^rther 
4hanthat  he  was  brought  to  the  river  Houge,  on  the  2^th 
o?  26;h  of  January  in  a  sleigh.  I  fear,  from  our  having 
heard  nothiog  of  him  since,  Uiat  he  is  no  more,  and  that 
valuable  officer  forever  lost  to  his  country. 

**  The  dead  of  our  army  are  still  denied  the  riehts  of 
fiepulture.  At  the  time  I  left  Sandwich,  I  was  told  the 
bogs  were  eating  them.  A  genUeraan  told  me  he  had 
seen  them  runiking  about  with  skuUs,  ai'ms,  legs  and  other 
^  .rts  of  the  human  system  in  their  mouths.  The  French 
people  on  the  Baisin  buried  captains  Hart,  Woolfolk  and 
some  others,  but  it  was  more  than  their  lives  were  wortb, 
to  have  been  caii^ht  paying  this  last  actustomed  tribute 
to  mortality. 

"  I  have  several  times  agitated  the  subject  of  burying 
the  dead,  when  in  company  with  the  British  officers,  but 
they  e^Uvays  answered  that  the  Indians  would  not  suf* 
f€r  it." 


'^y^ 


B 


kNae-*-' 


A  feturn  of  the  American  prisomrs^  m\o  mere  tomahawk' 

ed  by  the  Indians  subaequent  to  the  battle  at  Frenchtonmt 

January  22d,  1813. 

1.  Pascal  Hickman,  captain  ;  2.  James  E.  Blyth,  pri- 
vate; 3.  Charles  Gerles,  do.  A»  Thomas  S.  Crow,  do.  5. 
Daniel  Darnell,  do.  6.  Thoipas  Ward,  do.  7.  William 
Butler,  do.  8-  Henry  Downy,  dp.  9.  JohnF.  Sidney,  do. 

In  addition  to  the  above  number,  I  saw  two  others  torn-: 
ahawked  at  Sandy  iireek  myself,  and  find  that  the  prison- 
ers now  in  the  hospital  in  Sandwich  saw,  say  fifteen  or 
eighteen  others,  treated  in  the  same  manner.  Two  men 
tell  me  they  saw  one  who  had  the  appearance  of  having 
b^en  burned  to  death/   Those  men  whosaw  fienry  Dow- 


'iM' 


s  •':';. 


■.iif^r^^s.^^t.'i'"^^'  ^;.Aiw-^/«'  ihki,i0m^^^,  '*9;A 


■!l 


* 


y;'> 


136 


BARBARITIES  OF 


oy  and  William  Butler  killed)  tell  me  Uiat  the    IndlaD^' 

left  tbeai  without  scalping.   *^  fc 

<^^.  ISA.1CL,  BAKl^R, 

Ensign  2d  United  Slates*  infantrt/. 
Colonel  U.  Proctor. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  M^or-general  Harrison  to  ike 
Secretary  at  war,  dated  at  the  Miami  Rapids^  Fehruftf* 
ry  n,  1813. 
*'  I  hav^e  the  honor  to  enclose  to  you  the  depositioii 
of  Medard  Labadie,  ^ho  was  at  the  river  Raisin  on   the 
22d  ult.  and  remained  there  till  the  5th  instant.    His  ac- 
count of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  the  action,  is  conrroboi> 
ated  by  several  otliers,  nor  is  thei^  the  loast  reason  t0, 
doubt  his  statement,  as  it  regards  the  hoTtible  fate  of 'out 
ifouoded  men.     There  is  anotber  droumstance  which, 
plainly  i^ws  that  the  British  have  (no  iateii^ioD  to  coa- 
4luct  the  war  (at  least  in  this  quarter)  upon  those  piinci< 
pies  which  have  heeu  held  sacred  by  «11  civilized  natiens. 
On  the  30tb  ult.  I  dispatched  doctor   M'Keehan,  a  sqik 
;geoD'8  mate  in  the  militia,  with  a  ftag,  to  ascertain  the 
situatioti  ofo»r  wounded.    He  was  attended  by  one  c€ 
our  militia-men  amd  a  Pi-eocbman.     Ob  the   uight  alter 
their  departure,  they  halted    near  tliis  place  for  the  puv- 
pose  of  taking  a  few  hour%  sleep,  in  a  vacant  cabin  upon- 
the  bank  of  the  river.     The  cariole  in  which  they  trav» 
-«led  was  left  at  tha  door  with  the  flag  set  up  iniit.    Th^y 
were  discovered  by  a  party  of  Indians  (accompanied,  it 
-is  said,  by  a  British  officer)  and  attacked  in  the  manner 
described  in  the  depoution.     The  militiaman  was  killed 
and  scalped,  the  doctor  and  the  Frenchman  takear    Do(!^ 
tor  M'Keehan  was  fiirnis^ed  with  a  letter  addressed  to 
any  Briti^  c^cer  whom  he  might  meet,  Ascribed  tlie 
■  character  in  which  he  w«Bt,  and  the  object  for  which  he 
was  sent,  an  open  lettei*  to  general  Wiochester,  and  writ> 
ten  instructions  to  himself  ail  of  wbtoh  be  was  directed  td 
show  to  the  first  officer  he  met  with.    He  was  also  sup- 
,plied  with  one  hundred  dollars  io  gold  to  procure  neoes- 
mries  tor  the  prisoners." 

The  affidavit  of  Medard  Labbadie,  late  reslident  oeajc 


■  ,1  ,■ 


m 


>■ 


^' 


:■■  <■■■' 


■*^'.  '  ''  ■"  THE  ENEMT.     ■ 


■.•*. 
< 


'■\h  rt.h  .;•;.  ■! 


137 


tine  nver  Rattuii,  in  the  Michigan  territory.  He  beiof 
sworo,  Faith,  be  was  io  his  house  when  he  heard  the  guns 
at  the  commencement  of  t!ie  action  at  the  river  Baisin, 
on  tlie  22d  Jan.  1813,  between  the  American  forces  uo- 
der  gen.  Wipchester,  and  tlie  British,  Canadian  and  In- 
diao  fovces,  said  to  be  commanded  by  eel.  St.  George. — 
After  some  Httle  time,  he  tieard  that  the  Indians  were  kil- 
lii^  the  inhabitants  as  well  as  the  Americans,  upon  which 
he  went  towards  the  scene  of  action,  in  order  to  save  his 
lamily.  As  he  vent  on,  he  was  iTith  one  other  inhabitant 
iaken  prisoner  fa^r  two  Wyandot  Indians,  aiid  canied  pris- 
oners to  the  Indiaii  Hnes,  f^ram  which  be  saw  great  part  of 
the  action.  The  tiglit  wing  of  the.  Ajnerlcans  had  giv- 
en w^y  before  be  got  a  sight  of  the  action.  It  terminate  a 
tkCler  the  sun  wa*  some  hoiurs  higfa^  not  far  from  1 1  o'clock 
A.  M.  by  tlie  surrender  of  the  American  forces  tliatthen 
yemataed  on  the  ground;  He  saw  the  flag  hoisted  by 
the  British- sent  to  the  Amertean  forces,  and  saw  it  pass 
three  tim«9  to  tihe  Americana  before  the  surrender.  He 
couttd  not  understand  English,  but  understood  that  geu. 
Winchester  was  ts^en  prisoner  before  lie  got  to  the  lines 
of  his  awn-  men  ;  that  be  was  compellei^  to  carry  the  flag 
to  hi»  own  forces  after  he  was  taken ;  that  he  understood 
•the  reason  of  the  fla^  passing  so  often  was  thtttthe  Amer- 
icaoa  refused  to  8iirpiE:ider  upon  any  oilier  terms  than  the 
weunded  should  be  taken  care  of,  the  dead  buried,  and 
tlie  inbabistauts  protected  iu:  ttifsir  property^  That  the 
British  first  refused  to  agree  to  thpse  terms,  bnt  finally 
did  agree  to  Uiem;  .  He  also  understood  that  the  loss  of 
^he  British  aad  Indians  in  the  action  was  about  400  killed. 
He  aka  understood  that  the  loss  of  tliie  Americans  io  the 
action  was  aboi^t  18^0  killed. 

Ke  knows  that  on  the  day  of  the  action  all  the  prison- 
ers who  were  able  to  march  were  marched  oflf  towards 
Maiden,  the  wounded,,  about  60  or  80  in  number,  left  in 
two  houses  without  any  of  theii"  friends  or  a  physician  to 
take  care  of  them,  and  without  any  British  officer  or 
men.  About  ten  Indians  remained  behind  upon  the 
ground — the  balance  of  the  Indians  went  off  with  the  Brit- 
ibh,  and  he  was  told  by  some  of  the  Canadian  militia  that 

m2 


■  ■,•  ■■■•rxCl. 


'■"   .  ■"■    I  'I 


-^  u. 


.■i\ 


j'h 


i 


■•■|[i 

Vi'J 


r  \ 


n 


1 


;..^.*.  : 


:;  >' 


V  •  ..,  '»^; 


y- 


BARBARITIES  OF       * 


.  t 


the  British  had  promised  the  Indians  a  frolic  that  night 
at  StoRy  creek,  about  six  miles  from  the  riv^er  Raisin. 

He  was  liberated  after  the  line  of  march  was  foi'med 
for  Maiden.  The  next  morning  he  was  in  the  houses 
.,  where  the  wounded  were.  That  morning  about  fifty  In* 
dians  returned  ;  they  brought  whiskey  with  them ;  they 
(Irank  some  and-  gave  some  to  the  Indians  there,  and  be- 
tween 9  and  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  commenced  killing  the 
wounded,  then  set  fire  to  the  bouses  the  wounded  were  in, 
and  consumed  them.  He  was  at  Ills  father^s,  on  this  side 
of  the  Detroit  river,  about  seven  days  after  the  action, 
and  saw  across  the  river  the  prisoners  marched  oft*  for 
JN^iagara  from  Maiden.  \\ 

He  saith  that  he  saw  taken  by  his  house,  by  capt.  £l^> 
Hot,  and  nine  Wyandot  Indians,  two  men  that  he  under- 
stood had  been  sent  by  gen.  Harrison  with  a  flag  to  tlie 
British.  One  of  the  men  (Mr.  Tessier).  he  knew,  theotli- 
er  he  did  not  know,  but  understood  he  was  a  doctor.  He 
had  not  an  opportunity  of  conversing  with  them,  but  un- 
derstood  from  an  inhabitant,  to  whom  Mr.  Tessier  comr 
municated  it,  that  they  stopped  for  the  night  and  left  the 
flag  hoisted  on  the  cariole  ;  that  the  flag  was  taken  away 
unknown  to  them,  and  that  the  Indians  fired  on  them  ; 
that  he,  Tessiev,  told  them  they  were  Frenchmen,  and 
surrendered,  upon  which  the  Indians  ceased  firing,  and 
took  them.  They  then  mentioned  they  were  sent  with  a 
flag.  The  Jjidians  said  Uiey  were  liars  and  took  them 
off., 

Mr.  Tessier  was  set  st  liberty  at  the  river  Rusin,  and 
remained  two  days  expecting  the  doctor  to  return  $  at  the 
end.  of  which  time  Tessier  was  sent  for  by  the  British 
and  taken  to  Maiden.  He  understood  that  the  doctoif 
was  sent  off  immediately  to  Niagara ;  the  doctor  was 
wounded  in  the  ancle.  He  understood  the  British  charg- 
ed the  doctor  and  Tessier  with  being  spies.  And  further 
he  saith  not. 
,k]    (Signed)  MEDABD  LABBADIE. 

Witness^  C.  Gratiot,  capt  of  engineers  asd  iaterpr^; 


.^' 


■,A 


.^     • 


•I 


i;---;^y:tv. 


!f-.  ■-' 


..i^-io 


.^"  V  V  r^. 


^' J 


■■K-. 


:m 


THE  ENEMY*  ^ 


■ii^\ 


■-l^'-  ■^^ '.  ♦  t  ^  'Wrfc.. 


.^"SwoTn  to  before  mc,  this  11th  day  of  February,  1813. 
Camp,  foot  of  the  Miami  Rapids.  ^  ^r; 

,      (Signed)  C.  S.  TODD,  dis.  judge  ad.  | 


A  true  copy. 


H.  GRAHAM,  aid-de-canip. 


NtcholasviUef  Kentucky, 

Jl^l2Ath,  181».   v; 

Sir — ^Tours  of  the  5th  iost.  requesting  me  togiveyot^ 
a  statement  respectieg  the  late  disaster  at  Frenchtowii, 
was  duly  reeeived..  Rest  assured^  sir,  that  it  is  with  seiio 
sations  the  most  unpleasant,  that  I  undertake  to  recount 
the  infamous  and  barbarous  conduct  of  the  British  an4 
Indians  after  the  battle  of  the  22,d  of  Januaiy.  Tii^  blood 
runs  cold  in  my  veins  when  I  think  of  it.  ,  .^, 

Qo  the  morning  of  the  23d,  shortly  after  light,  six  or 
eight  Indians  came  to  uie  house  of  Jean  Baptiste  Je- 
raume,wherel  was  in  company  with  Major  Graves, 
Captains  Hart  and  Hickman,  Doctor  Todd,  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  private,  volunteers,  belonging  to  diifTerent  corps. 
They  did  not  molest  any  person  or  thing  on  their  first 
approach,  but  kept  saiiotering  about  until  tiiere  were  a 
large  nuaiber  collected  (say  one  or  two  hundred}  at 
which  time  they  commenced  plundering  the  houses  of  the 
iqhabitants,  and  the  massacre  of  the  wounded  prisoners. 
I  was  one  amongst  the  first  that  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
was  taken  to  a  horse  about  twenty  paces,  from  the  house 
after  being  divested  of  part  of  my  clothing,  and  comman- 
ded  by  signs  there  to  remain  for  further  orders.  Shortly 
after  being  there,  I  saw  them  knock  down  capt.  Hick- 
roan  at  the  door,  together  with  several  others  with  whom 
I  was  not  acquainted.  Supposing  a  general  massacre 
had  commenced,  I  made  an  eflfort  to  get  to  a  house  a- 
bout  100  yards  distant,  which  contained  a  number  of 
wounded,  but,  on  my  reaching  the  house,  to  my  great 
mortification,  found  it  surrounded  by  Indians,  which  pre- 
cluded the  possibility  of  my  giving  notice  to  the  unfortu- 
nate victims  of  savage  barbarity.  An  Indian  chief  of  the 
Tama  tribe,  by  the  name  of  McCarty  gave  me  possession 
of  his  hone  and  blanket,  telliog  me  by  signs,  to  lead  the 


ty.-^ 


/'' 


.-.  ^^ 


.i 


rJffl 


•c.i4  {•'3: 


'.■^'•',^i■,i'4l'■i. 


■t'-f    'i>- 


.YA-    ^v 


140 


BARBARITIES  OF 


i'-:  'i' 


4:^ 


■^■4* 


■r:*;,^-^^ 


hone  to  the  house  which  I  had  just  before  left.  The  Iik« 
dian  that  Hrst  took  me,  by  this  time  came  up  and  mani- 
fested a  uostile  dii^HMntion  towards  me,  b;^  raising  his 
tomahawk  as  if  to  give  me  the  fatal  blow,,  which  was  pre- 
vented by  my  very  good  friend  McCarty.  On  my  reach- 
ing the  house  which  I  had  first  started  from,  I  saw  the 
Indians  take  olf  several  prisotters^whofn  I  al'terwards  saw 
in  the  road,  in  a  most  mangled  condition,  and  entirely 
#triptt>f  their  cloching. 

B|r»^  Bradford,  Searls,  Turner,  and  Blythe,  were  eoU 
ieeted  round  a  cihrriole  whieh  e|GM!iiained  aBtieles  taken 

~"hy-  the  IncHans  from  the  citizens.  We  had  all  been  pla- 
ced there,  by  our  respective  captors,  except  Blythe,  who, 
«ane  where  we  were,  entreathig  an  Indian  to  convey  hinv 
to  Maiden,  promisii^  to  give  him  40  or  50  doHars,  and 
whilst  in  the  act  of  ^eacKng  for  merey,  an  Indian  more 
•avage  than  the  other  stepped  up  Isehind^  tomahawked,, 
•tripped  aqd  scalped  him.  The  next  that  attracted  my 
attention,  was  d^  houses  on  iinr  that  contained  several 

"^'■•rouBfiied  whom  I  knew  M-ere  not^abfe  to  get  out     After 
Ahe  houses  were  nearly  consumed,  we  received  marching 
^orders,  and  after  arriving  at  Sandycreek  the  Indians  call- 
■ed  a  halt,  and  commenced  cooking;  after  preparing  and 
eating  a  little  sweetened  gruel,  Messrs.  Bradford,  Searls, 
'Turner  and  myself  received  some,  and  were  eating,  whea* 
an  Indian  came  up  and  proposed  exchar^ing  his   mocka-. 
-aom  for  Mr.  Searb*  shoes,  which  he;  readily  complied^ 
with.     Th^  then  exchanged  hats,  aft^r  which  the   In: 
dian  inqtiired  hew  many  men  Hu'rison  had  with  him, 
'and  at  the  Same  time  calling  Searls  a  Washington  or  Mad- 
ison, then  raised  his  tomahawk  and  struck  liim  nn  the 
sbouldet ,  which  cut  into  the  cavity  of  the  body.     Searls 
then  caught  hold  of  the  ,toraahaw:k  and  appeared  toreE^st, 
and  upon  my  telling  him  that  his  faj:e  Vas  Inevitable,  he 
'  closed  his  eyesand  received  the  sayage  blew  which-  ler- 
mhiated  his  existence.    I  was  near  enough  to  Mm  to  re- 

'  ceive  the  brains  and  blood,  aftei;  the  falm  blow,  on  my 

blanket.    A  short  time  after  the  death  of  Searls,  I  saw 

•three others  share  the  same  fete.    We  then  set-  out  for 

'Brownstown,  which  place  we  reached  about  12   or  I  oV 

olock  at  oight.    After  being  exposed  to  several  hours  in? 


■V 


M 


)a:i>.- 


.,'^i^  ,i.i- 


THE  ENKl!»¥i:^.€ 


14» 


<;e96aDt  rain  in  reachiag  that  place  we  were  put  into  the 
council  house,  the  floor  of  which  was  partly  covered  vkh 
vwater  ;  at  which  place  we  remsiued  undl  next  morning, 
when  we  again  received  marching  orders  for  their  viU 
lage  OB  the  river  Rouge,  which  place  we  made  that  day, 
wh«*re  I  was  kept  six  days,  then  tftken  to  Detroit  and  sold. 
Tor's  more  detailed  bceount  of  the  proceedings,  I  take 
the  liberty  of  referringyou  to  a  publication  which  appear- 
e<l  i^the  public  prints,  signed  by  Sasign  J.  L.  Ba^ 
ker  i  and  to  the  publication  of  Jodge  WeotiNrafd,  bt^th  of 
which  I  have  particiilarly  examined  mdfiuedtbem  to  bc^ 
)itei:ally  correct,  ao  ftir  as  came  us^r  laiy  maicd.         f 

I  am  Sit,  with  dtt«  regard,.     ^ 
r«.  Your  fellow  ciliaen,  *^ 

:J  OUSTAVUS  M.  BOWER.  ^ 

'^'siii     Sm^on*s  Mate  5tk  Regi.  KwttudM  Vnhmur^  i' 

"  Jessamine  county,  to  wit. 

This  day  Gustavus  M.  Bower,  pei«oiialIy  came  be- 
fore me,  John  Metcalf,  one  of  the  commonwealth's  justices 
of  the  peace  in  and  for  said  county,  axnl  made  loath  tothe 
truth  of  assertions  before  slated  by  the  sai^l  Bower.— ->^ 
(^iven  under  my  hand  this  24|h  day  of  April,  1813.      ^ 

f  JOHN  l^tETCALF.  ^ 

f  Jesse  Bledsoe,  esq.  Lexington,  *, 

Sir — I  received  your  letter  some  time  since,  relative 
ie  the  disastrous  affair  of  Frenchtown  of  22d  and  23d 
January  last.  For  the  particulars  of  the  action,  and  th^ 
terms  of  capitulation,  I  refer  you  to  the  official  report  of 
General  Winchester,  which  is  correct  as  far  as  came 
within  my  knowledge.  After  the  capitulation  I  was  in- 
troduced to  col.  Proctor,  the  commander  of  tiie  British 
forces  and  Indians,  as  one  of  the  surviving  suigeons,  and 
1^  him  was  requested  to  attend  to  our  wounded,  who 
were  left  on  the  ground  where  the  action  was  fought.  I  wil- 
lingly acquiesced,  and  Doctor  Bowers  my  BtaHp  remained 
with  me  ;  at  ttie  same  time  J  informed  Col.  Proctor  of 
my  appr^ensionsfor  the-safety  of  the  womded  «ad  ^q 


-^w  ■ 


'fTJ-^SV  ,-. 


Mi 


■;* 


}4$ 


BABBABITIES  OF 


nirgeoBfi;  he  replied  be  under  no  apprehensfons,  you  wilt 
be  perfectlr  safe,  I  will  place  you  under  the  special  car« 
of  Ine  chiere  until  morning  and  very  early  I  will  send  cock 
veyances  for  the  wounded  and  yourself  to  Amherstburg, 
Shortly  after,  I  was  requested  to  ascertain  the  number  and 
rank  of  tlte  wounded,  and  in  so  doing  was  assisted  by  a 
British  officer  (whose  name  I  did  not  know)  to  whom  I 
likewise  communicated  my  apprehensions   of  safety  ;  he 
manifested  some  irritation  at  my  doubts  of  British  honoi 
and  magnanimity,  and  assured  me  protection  would  qe  afr 
forded  me.*  While  engaged  in  this  business,  one  of  the 
rooms  occupied  by  the  wounded  was  crowded  with  lo,'* 
dians  w^were  peaceable,  but  one  of  them  who  could 
speak  English  admonished  the  British  officer  of  the  pro^ 
priety  of  stationing  interpreters  in  the  houses.     Upon  my 
return  from  this  business   to  the  room  I '  occupied,   and 
which  was  set  apart  for  the  wounded  officers,  I  met,  And 
was  made  acquainted  with  captain  Klliott,  at  present  a, 
British  officer,  who  had  visited  Captain  Hart  then  wound- 
ed.    Captain  Hart  was  solicitous  to  be  removed  that  ev- 
vening,  and  Captain  Elliot  replied,  if  it  was  possible  (and 
every  exertion  should  be  made)  he  should,  and,  if  it  could 
not  he  effected  that  evening,  early  in  the  morning  h?  would 
cajl  for  him  in  his  own  train  (sleigh)  and  convey  hiin  to 
his  own  house  in  Amherstburg,  where  he  should  reituiii*. 
until  recovered,  assuring  him,  repeatedly,  no  danger  was 
to  be  apprehended,  and  if  possible  he  would  remain  with- 
liiim  that  night.    In  the  afternobn  Captain  Elliot  and  ev- 
ery British  officer  left  the  encampn>ent,   leaving  behind 
three  interpreters.     From  the  repeated  assurances,  my 

apprehensions  were  quieted  ;  for  who  could  doubt  ? ->^ 

About  one  hour  before  day  light  (for  my  duties  required 
my  attention  nearly  all  the  night)  the  interpreters  sudden- 
ly disappeared.  About  an  hour  after  day  light,  the  In- 
dians began  to  collect  in  the  town,  and  commenced  plunr 
dering  the  houses  in  which  the  wounded  were  placed,  and. 
then  stripped  them  and  myself  of  our  clothing.  At  this 
time  the  room  I  had  occupied  was  crowded  with  Indians, 
and  Capt.  Harfs  wound  already  painful,  being  injured 
i>7  ihewj  I  conveyed  him  tQ  an.  adjoiavng  houii^  which 


•^1 


f  HE  JENEaiY.^'v^ 


11^ 


4iaA  Wen  plundered  and  WM  enip^,  irbe^e  I  met  the  Id'- 
dian  (who  on  the  preceding  day  had  requested  that  in<' 
terpreters  should  be  left)  and  he  knew  my  rank.  He 
hiqidred  why  the  sui^ons  were  left,  and  why  the  wounded 
%ereleft?  I  replied  it  was  the  wish  of  Colonel  Proctor 
we  should  remain  until  he  could  send  for  us  ;  and  Capt. 
Hart  informed  hkn  Capt.  Elliott  wa8«  friend  of  his  and 
was  to  call  for  him  that  morning.  He  shook  his  head 
eigniflcantly,  add  replied  they  were  damned  rascals,  or  we 
Would  haye  been  taken  off  the  preceding  day.  The  In- 
dian informed  me  every  individual  would  be  killed,  and 
requested  me  to  be  quiet,  for  the  chiefis  were  then  in  coun- 
cil and,  "  may  be,'*  only  the  wounded  would  be  killed. 
Captain  Hart  offered  him  one  hundred  dollars  to  take 
him  to  MaldJBnk  He  replied,  you  are  too  badly  wound- 
ed. While  we  weVe  conversing,  one  of  the  wounded  wa* 
tomahawked  at  our  feet.  Shortly  after,  the  Indian  r^ 
turned  and  told  me,  I  was  a  prisoner,  and  roust  go.  I  was 
taken  by  the  Indian  to  the  house  I  had  left,  and  there  dis- 
covered that  Captain  Hitchman  and  two  others  had  In 
my  absence  been  tomahawked,  scalpt,  and  stript.  I  was 
tied  and  taken  by  this  Indian  toward  Maiden  about  four 
miles,  when  I  came  to  the  encampment  of  the  British 
wounded,  and  met  with  Captain  Elliott  and  the  surgeon 
of  the  4lBt  regiment.  Captain  Elliott  immediately  recog- 
'nised  me,  and  inquired  the  cause  of  my  situation.  I  in- 
formed him  what  had  taken  place,  and  requested  him  to 
8<enk  back  immediately,  thait  some  who  were  badly  wound- 
ed might  be  still  alive,  and  could  be  saved,  particularly 
named  Captajn  Hart,  for  whom  he  manifested*nnich  friend- 
ship. Captain  Elliott  replied,  it  is  now  too  late,  you  may 
rest  assured  that  those  who  are  once  taken  by  the  Indiana 
are  safe,  and  will  be  taken  to  Maiden,  and  those  who  are 
badly  wounded  are  killed  ere  this.  I  replied,  many  are 
Unable  to  walk,  and  some  will  be  killed  after  making  an 
effort  and  walking  several  miles,  who  might  be  saved  ;  to 
which  he  replied,  fcharity  begins  at  home,  my  own  wound- 
ed are  to  be  conveyed  first,  and  if  any  sleighs  remain  j 
they  shall  be  sent  back  for  your  wounded.  My  anxiety 
t5  get  some  persons  to  return,  in  hopes  of  saving  some  of 
the  prisraers,  induced  me  at  length  to  make  aa  appeal  to 


in 

I,  ■ 


i 


I   »a 


if 


U4 


BARBAltlTlES  OP 


their  avftrice.  The  surgical  ioitruments  of  the  detach^ 
ment  were  left  in  the  room  I  occupied,  wad  I  informed  the 
virgeoD  of  their  vahi«  aod  importance  tt  the  time ;  he 
immcdiHtely  despatched  an  interpreter  for  them,  who  re« 
turued  with  the  iQfwmatiiOD  thej  were  destroyed  in  the 
biurniog  of  the  house,  and  gave  additional  information  of 
the  massacre  of  the  wown&i.  I  was  released  from  the 
Indians  by  Captain  Elliott  and  the  surgeon*  At  this 
time  my  brother,  rSo  waa.  wounded  and  several  others, 
were  in  poeseauon  of  the  Indians,  who  were  taking  them 
towards  Maiden.  I  requested  their  release,  and  permis- 
sion for  them  to  accompany  me  oaibot,  under  British  pro* 
tectioo.  Captain  £lUoU  told  me  it  was  impossible,  and 
to  be  under  no  fears ;  thev  were  aafe,^  for  he  knew  the 
fidelity  of  the  Indians  with  whom  they  were.  When  the 
intelligence  of  the  massacre  was  by  me  communicated  to 
Captain  £Uiotl  and  the  surgeon,  they  apoearedmuch  ex«> 
asperated,  and.  declared  it  was  iaa|iosib^  "o  restrain  tliA 
savages.  The  cause  he  then  assignee  me  was,  that 
.^  when  the   Indiana  diacavered  their  loss  in  killed  and 

||j  wounded,  and  that  of  the  British,  they  started  off  toward*- 

'  our  wounded,  declared  they  weuld  have  satisfaction  and^ 

he  continued,  I  was  fearful  ef  the  event.    Durin«r  the  plun»^ ' 
der  and  the  massacre,  our  wounded  conducted  themselve* 
with  the  utmost  composure  and  resignation,  and  made  no. 
resistivnce,  wiiieb  they  knew  would  be  fruitless,  and  dea*- 
truction  to  alt., 

It  was  asserted  by  Col*    Proctor  in  a  eonveraatioa.' 

at  Amiierstburg,  that  the  Indians  had  got  some  whiskeys 

in  the  house  we  were  stationed,   and  ha^  become  intoxi-' 

cated.    That  the  Imiians  may  have  had  some  whiskey,  I^ 

shall  not  deny,  but  T  think  I  can  safely  say,  that  they- 

did  not  procure  it  there,  "and  UuU  was  not  the  cause  of 

the  massacre,  for  on  the  preceeding  days  and  subsequent, 

to  the  action  of  the  18Ch,  I  wanted  aome  spirits,  and  madO' 

X     application  to  the  housekeeper,  who  assured  me  there  wae^. 

}     q,one  about  the  how«c,  for  it  waaall  consumed  by  the  Brft^ 

\    ish  9lw  Indians  who  bad  quartered  in  the  house  prior  to> 

^  the  action  of  the  18th.;  besides  the  Indiana  shewed  no 

inifestatiour  of  druatonew  j.  U>^  deliberate  pilfering. 


\ 


\ 


•:;^< 


THK  FlIVEMT. 


1-15 


s 


ntid  thrli-  ordeily  conduct  throughout,  vrias   not  euch  &s 
would  be  expected  from  dt-nakeo  Indians. 

Upon  my  arrival  at  Maiden  I  was  again  solicited  to 
take  charge  of  the  wounded,  the  surgery  was  opened  to 
me,  and  I  had  the  use  of  the  medicines  and  dressings  ne- 
cessary, and  they  had  as  comfortable  rooms  as  could  be 
procured.  During  our  si^y  in  Maiden  some  eight  or  10 
ef  tiic  wounded  were  brought  in  by  the  Indians  ;  several 
made  their  escape  "who  were  doomed'  to  massacre,  and 
found  prdtectioo  whh  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory,  who 
brought  them  into  Maiden,  and  eev^eral  made  their  escape, 
wandered  in  and  dcHvered  themtclves  up  at  the  fort. — — 
Prior  to  our  leaving  Maiden,  one  poor  fellow  was  brought 
in  scalped  alive  by  the  Indians  and  delivered  up  to  the 
BriUsli,  but  before  I  reached  him  death  put  an  end  to 
his  sufferings.  I  fiequpntly,  and  on  every  occasion,  ur- 
ged the  British  officers  lo  exert  thesselves  and  procure 
tlie  release  of  the  wounded  from  the  Indians,  arging  the 
nece8i4ty  of  having  their  wounds  dressed.  In  a  conver- 
sation on  tills  subject  with  capt.  Elliott,  and  while  urging 
it,  he  replied,  tlie  Indians  are  excellent  surgeons.  The 
prisoners  were  all  marched  off  to  Sandwich  after  remain- 
ing a  few  days  at  Maiden,  and  I  was  caUed  upon  to.^now 
how  many  from  their  wounds  \rere  unablie  to  march  ;  who 
had  sleighs  furnished  them,  which  was  the  case  during  the 
march  to  Fort  George.  Before  I  conclude,  I  must  say 
that  ttie  terms  of  capitulation  were  violated  in  every  par- 
ticular by  the  enemy.  The  wounded  were  not  protect- 
ed ;  private  property  was  not  held  sacred  ;  and  our  side 
arms  were  not  restored.  With  a  few  exceptions,  I  was 
treated  riespectfiilly  by  the  British  officers,  save  the  f» 
buse  which  was  lavished  en  my  government,  andlAo/  was 
by  no  means  sparingly  bestowed. 

I  am,  respectfully,  &c.  O* 

JO^N  TODD.M.  D. 
and  late  sdrgeon    to  the  5th  regt.  of  Kentucky 
Toluoteer  militia. 
Tiu  Hon*  Jesse  Bledsoe  f 


i\ 


n 


i 


I 


n 


I.40 


■^ 


'.Ui- 


.>:•  T,  ".':.  »•.- 


'   r'-i  ntkr,- 


'■■Ms ' 


'''r-^ 

.;^^ 


-/■ 


i^feS' 


BlRBARITIES  Of 


'•*■  -  ■ 


^•%'' 


SSi 


^^• 


The'cm^imimalth  of  Kmtucki/, 
Fayette  county,  ^ 

This  dfty  Doctor  Junis  Todd  came  before  me,  John  ti. 
Morton,  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  feaid  coUn!y,  and  made 
oath  that  the  facts  stated  in  the  foregolBg  letter  are  subftan- 
tiaUy  true  to  the  best  of  bis  k(  owledge. 
Given  under  HIV  hand  this  3d  day  of  May,  1813. 

JOHN  H.  MORTON. 


■'^: 


State  of  KmiuckyyFendietoH  eokntyyin  the  town  of 

On  the  21st  day  of  Aprilyl8i3, 1,  John  Dawson,  an 
orderly  seijeant  in  captain  <01acd's  comp?\ny  of  <he  first 
regiment  Kentucky  volunteer  militia  being  detailed  off 
and  attadied  to  eaptain  Wriel  Seabrees*  company,  and 
vas  in  the  battle  of  ISth  January^  and  did  not  receive  a 
wound,  but  on  the  22d,  about  9  r 'clock,  received  a  shot 
Mider  the  riglit  arm,  vhich  io<%cd  betwc^^n  the  rihsw— -— 
-After  the  capituh^on  of  oUr  troops,  there  Lame  a  payma»> 
i^x  of  the  British  army  in  the  hmise  where  I  vas,  to  t»ke 
4he  number  of  wounded  that  was  in  ihe  house,  I  asked  what 
was  to  be  done  with  us  j  he  Teplii.d  donH  makeyouivelf 
uoeafijr  about  th^t,  y^i  shall  be  protected  this  night  by  a 
stronv  guard  which  '^lall  be  left  JKith  you.  But  to  r  /sad 
misfortune,  I  found  there  were  but  three  intep  "eters  left^aod 
in  the  night  an  <KfRcer  took  two  of  them  away,  and  in  the 
morning  tlie  other  one  said  he  ociuld  not  talk  Indian.    So 
wJier  Uie  lDdian»caRU>  in  the  ■mornings  they  broke  open 
the  tisors  of  the  house :,  began  to  tcmiabawk,  scalp  and 
plunder,  then  set  fire  to  the  houses  wbioh  contained  the 
^prisonerti ;  Mith  this  I  got  up,  put  en  my  great  coat  put 
up  my  knapsack,  and  went  piEtof  doom.    I  had  not  been 
out  more  than  one  minute,  before  an  Icdieu)  came   up  to 
me  and  took  the  coat  off  my  back,  also  duother  Indian 
told  me  to  put  my  knapsack  in  h's  sled  ;  I  did  so.    At 
this  time  major  Graves  and  captain  Hart  wene  out  in  the 
yard.     I  heard  ciipt.  Hart  make  a  bargain  with  an  In- 
dian to  take  him  to  Maiden,  which  tie  Indian  ngreed  to 
do  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred   dollars.     I  saw  the  In- 
dian put  a  pair  of  socks  on  Hart  and  put  him  on  a  horse ; 
this  was  the  lai  1 1  saw  of  Hart.    I  then  saw  a  man  ridings 


( 


y 


I 


I 


THE  ENEMT. 


147  f 


wbomJ  thought  was  a  British  officer.  I  made  to  himv 
but  found  that  he  was  an  Indian,  who  was  a|d-de-cainp 
to  general  Roundhead  ;  he  had  with  him  whrn  I  came  up* 
twelve  men,  It  was  at  the  mouth  of  a  line  where  I 
overtoolihim,  where  there  were  two  Indians  scalping  two 
men;  he  hallooed  to  them  t•^gi'^e  way ;  th^yd^ so.  Af^ 
ter  tlus,  we  icent  on,  and  on  Sandy  creek,  abput  3  miles 

-r  from  the  battle  ground,  I  saw  major  Graves  in  an  Indian 
^sleigh;  this  \a  the  last  account  of  him  that  I  could  ascer- 
tain.    We  went  aa  thai  liight  to  Brownstown,  and  in  the 
moroisg  of  the  24tb,  a  man  gave  out  walking,  with  tlie 

'  ^^rheunmtsc  pains,  who  was  by  the  name  oi  IVwney.    The 
I  Indians  tomahawked  him  and  theta  stript  him.    We  then 

^ «  marched  on  above  Detroit  on  the  river  Boiige,  I  stay- 
ed with  them  several  days,  they  then  took  me  into  Detroit 
( leaving  a  young  man  jn  the  camp  by  the  name  of  John 
Davenport)  and  sold  me  to  ms^r,  Muir,  who  commands 
fort  Detroit.  I  then  was  sent  over  to  Sandwich,  there  I 
stayed.ur/ui  the  Slluof  Februi^ry ;  they  marched  me  to 
fort  Qeoige,  and  mecu  the  19th  of  February, 

-  1813.     The  above  is>  a  true   statement  as  far  as  I  saw^ 
though  T  saw  numbers  massacred  that  I  did  not  know. 

During  my  confinement  with  the  Indians,   whilst  at 
their  camps,  they  shewed  more  humanity  than  the  Brit  ^ 
ish. 
Given  under  laj  hand  this  21st  day  of  April,.1813< 

A:r-^tm^  JOHN  DAWSON,. 

Peitdleton  counti/y  s»,  ,  ' 

I,  William  Mountjoy,  otie  of  the  Commonwealth's  j»!S- 
tices  of  the  peaoe  for  the  state  of  Kentucky,  in  and  for  sdid 
founty,  do  certify  that  the  foregoirg  cerlificpte  of  John 
J^%wson,  was  written,  nuioiscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me^ 
,  Given  under  my  haao  this  21st  day  of  April,  1813. 

>  wm.  mountjoy. 


f  I 


1 


State  of  Kerattcktfj  ^endkton  cmtnty^  in  the  tonmM  Vol' 

mouth'  ** 

On  the  21st  day  of  April,  1813, 1,  Thomas  Pollard, 
a  private  of  Capt.  Gla\re's  company,  of  the  first  Regi> 
ment  of  Kentucky  volunteer  militia,  was  in  battksioHght 


.w/ 


■  >x 


■4'-  .-"y-- 


■•'*  <m lytm^'ttmt  am..\ 


148 


BARBARITIES  OF 


;A*  ;.*'..'    ";.K 


( 


M 


■r^^ 


irith  the  British  and  Indian  army,  on  the  18tb  and  229 
of  Januaty  last,  at  th^  river  Raisin,  tiad  aftsr  the  saf- 
render  of  our  army  as  pHsoners  of  war,  on  the  22d,  upon 
the  assurances  of  the  British  officers  promising  protection 
to  my  wounded  fellow  soldiers,  and  that  they  would  send 
jtarrioles  for  them  the  ncfxt  day,  although  I  bad  receired 
no  injury  in  either  of  the  actions  foi^ht  on  the  18th  and 
22d,  I  voluntarily  staid  to  assist  and  comfort  my  mecsT 
Bates,  John  Dawson  apd  Albert  Ammerman  acid  Jesse 
Green,  all  of  whom  had  received  wounds  by  balls. 

I  have  first  examined  the  statement  made  and  swors 
to,  by  John  Dawson,  hereto  annexed,  and  witnessed  «t&>v 
ly  circumstance  therein  stated  to  be  truly  stated  within  my 
own  knowk^ge.  The  Indian  who  bargained  with  cslpt 
Hart,  to  take  hioi  to  fort  Maiden  for  one  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  took  chaise  of  him — pnt  him  on  a  horse  and 
started  on  his  way;  spoke  good  enough  tlie  English 
tong^e  lor  us  to  understand  the  contract. 

THOMAS  POLLARD.    ^ 


FEKDtEltoN  COVNTT  S8. 


■>v> 


K    ^ 


I,  WilUam  Mountjoy,  one  of  tl^  commonwealtirs  jUOa^ 
^ces  of  the  peace  Ibr  the  stale  of  Kentucky,  in  and  for 
said  county,  do  certify  that  the  foregoing  certificate  of 
Tliomas  Pollard,  was  subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me. 

fiiven  under  my  hand  this  21st  April,  1813.  t*K 

wm.  mountjoy. 


State  of  Kcniucky,  Pendleton  County,  in  the  tam  of    ' 
*  Falmouth. 

^;t;  On  the  21st  day  of  April,  1313, 1,  Albert  Amraennait^ 
a  private  of  captain  Glave'ij  company  of  the  first  regi- 
ment oi  Kentucky  volunteer  militia,  being  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  the  18th  Jannaiy  last,  at  the  river  Raisin, 
by  a  ball  in  the  flesh  of  the  thigh  ;  and  from  the  window 
of  the  house  which  was  appropriated  for  an  hospital,  was 
a  witn^  to  the  battle  of  the  22d  of  the  same  month ;  and 
after  me  surrender,  |,  being  but  slightly  wounded,  pro- 
posed marching  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  and  was 
prevented  by  the  order  of  a  British  officer,  who  said  that 
a  guard  would  be  left  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  a^ 


•t  .. 


-■A 


^..^]tl<t>>f  . 


^•«*>^^fi.c•.■^•.^:I•:'Ai•V  .'  .vj.'^.l.s:.: 


■1  ^  S^r   -.: 


"^/-i",:.. 


,^::v?;i  j^^^fTHE  ENEMY.' 


r*'  •. 


/•'. 


^^140 


itiarrioles  would  be  sent  for  them  to  ride  ia  to  MaMen, 
■on  tbe  next  fnoralog.  But  to  my  astonkbnient  no  gunrd 
"^  ^as  (eft  «nd  about  sunrise  on  the  morning  (A  the  23d,  a 
/  fiarty  of  Indiaas  returned  to  the  Heepitai,  and  the  first 
;>  Indian  that  €flme  to  tbe  room  I  was  lodged  in,  could 
^  speak  the  English  language.    He  vas  asked  by  oAe  of 

-  the  wounded  what  was  to  be  done  with  the  wounded.  He 
replied  they  were  ail  to  b6  killed  that  could  not  walk^ 

>  and  shijitly  aJlter  a  general  massacre  commenced.    I  in- 
stantly put  on  my  knapsack,  and  went  out  of  the  house ; 
;r  .my  knapsack  was  demanded  l)y  an  Indian  at  the  door,  to 
I  whom  I  gave  it    He  coDducicd  me  to  a  log  some  little 
^  distance  from  ther house,  on  which  I  sat  down,  where  I 
witnessed  the  butchery  of  many  of  my  fellow  citizens' — 
sufferers  by  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife ;  and,  te  fin- 
^  ish  the  scene,  set  fire  to  the  houses  occupied  by  the  wound- 
ed prisoners,  maay  of  them  struggliog  in  the   arms  of 
death,  put  their  heads  out  of  the  windows  whilst  envelop- 
^cd.  in    smoke   and  flames.       After  this  bloody  work 
was  fini?iK  i,  I  was  marchad  off  on  the  direction  towards 
Brewnstown,  by  ai>  Indian,  and  when  about  half  a  mile 
from  Frenchiowrt  on  our  way,  was  overtaken  by  two  In- 
dians,  who  had  captain  Hart  in  custody,  mounted  on  a 
}iorse.     As  they  F      -oached  nearly  to  us,  I  noticed  they 

-  were  speaking  Joun   and  animated  as  if  in  a  quarrel,  but 
"inot  understanding  their  lini|nin«;iRdid  notundei>  ui.iwhat 

passed  between  them,  but    .<u)k  it  is  probable  that  the 

quarrel  was  occasioned  ref5pecl'ng  one  1    ndred  dollars 

which  f  understood  captain  Hart  had  given  to  ^ne  of  llie 

/  Indians  aforesaid,  to  convey  him  to  fort  Mal(..n.     The 

I-  quarrel  appeared  to  grow  very  warm,   so  much  so,  tliat 

'  t)ie  Indians  took  aim  at  each  otirer  AViui  tlieir  guns,  and 

lns  if  to  settle  the  dispute  it  appeared  to  me  as  if  they  had 

^-tTiutually  agreed  to  kill  captain  Hart  and  pi  -nder  him  of 

■  the  rest  of  his  money  and  effects,  wliich  th'     did,  by  taking 

■  him  off  his  horse,  then  knocked  him  down  with  a  war  club, 
scalped  and  tomahawed  him,  and  stript  him  !riaked;ieav- 

'  ing  his  body  on  the  ground.     I  was  gratified  in  observe 

'  ing  that,  during  the  scene  of  trial,  captain  Hart  refrained 

from  supplication  or  intreaty,  but  ftppcaned  perfectly 


A    I  ■ 


n 


yr 


I 


:■:    '  ■  '.-<  , ' 


I 


150 


BARBARITIE3  OF 


"...  ■ ' • 


calm  anjSI  collected.    He  met  his  fate^with  that  firmness 
which  was  his  particular  characteristic.    No  other  pris- 
oner of  our  army  of  tlie  United  States  was  present  to  wit' 
ness  this  melanchoily  scene,  the  death  of  captain  Hart. 
During  my  captivity  with  the  Indians,  five  days  only,  t 
was  treated  with  more  hospitality  than  I  had  any  reason 
to  expect,  miu^b  more  so  thnn  I  experienced  from  the  Brit- 
ish, after  I  ws^s  fansomed  at  Detroitf  by  My.  Benjamin 
Chittenden,  who  will  ever  be  entitled  to  my  utmost  grat- 
itude ;  by  hini  I  was  humanely  treated,  and  also  by  some 
of  the  French  C^nndians.  bis  ^^^f 

ALBERT  1^  AMMEBMAX.  ' 


'J 


mark 


':•»■■■- 


PENDLETON  COUIJTY,  SS.  ._ 

- 1,  William  Alountjoy,  one  of  the  commonwealths*  justi- 
ces of  the  peace,  for  th^  state  of  Kentucky^  in  and  for  said 
county,  do   certify  the.  fbiegoing  certificate  of  Albert 
Ammerroan,  was  subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me. 
Given  und^r  my  hand  this  21  st  day  of  April,  1813.    ' 

.     TVm.  MOUNTJOX.  i; 

^iS"^*^^;';^*    **'    '•^■■■■.'         ■.:■•"         ■      ■■    ^       ■    •  •  ."  'w  A'. 

Lexii^tan,  April  ISih,  1813 
SiiR— Tou  request  «f  me   a  statement  of  facts  withia 
Diy  <>wa  knowledge,  concerning  the  murder  of  our  meik 
after  the  battle  and  surrender  at  Frenchtown. 

I  was  one  of  those  who  was  iaken  by  the  IncUans  on 
the  retr«e(,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  fi^m  wlieere  the 
action  first  commenced.     Just  before  we  were  taken, 
with  the  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Ckinn,  beiongihg  to  the 
militia^  I  fonited  between  fifteen  and  twenty  men,  I  then 
discovered  the  Indians  running  upon  us  j»n  each  side  tnl 
j!b  front,  ahoat  sixty  In  number,  with  tlieir  arms  at  a  trail. 
1  discovered  there  m&s  no  chance  to  re^  si  them.     I  or- 
,  dered  the  men  to  ground  their  arms,   wb.ch   was  done;; 
:  ^V  J  Indians  then  camo  up   and  secured  tlie  arms  of  our 
.^,tiien«  and  shot  them,  liichiding  the  Lieut,  before  mention- 
ed.   I  was  the  only  one  saved.    I  was  takes  and  delW- 
tjccd  Up  to  Col.  Elliott)  a  BriUsh  ofllicyf.  *^,v4j*  ^ 


-.••-/  > 


\ 


,..•'»*. 


THE  ENEMY. 


ni 


\i 


As  to  the  murder  of  the  wounded,  I  know  notliing  of 
my  own  knowledges 

Tour  obedient  servant, 
*  A.  GARRETT, 

Hon.  Jesse  Bledsoe. 
Fayette  County,  ss^ 

This  day  Lieutenant  Ashton  Garirelt,  of  the  nth  regi- 
im$ntU.  S.Inf^ntrj',  came'before  jonc,  and  made  oath  that 
the  foregoing  statement  is  just  and  true  to  the  best  of 
his  knowledge  and  belief. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  thirteenth  day  of  April, 
1313^  J,  H.  MORTCN,  J.  P. 


68. 


State  of  Kentucky 

fayette  county. 

Personally  a[^ared  before  roe^  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  the  county  a&resaid,  Charles  Bradford,  an  inhabitant 
of  the  town  •!  Lexington,  state  of  Kentucky,   who  be- 
ing duly  sworn  on  the  Moly  Evangelists,  deposeth  and 
saith,  that  he  was  in  the  actions  at  tlie  river  Raisin,  on 
the  \  3th  and  22d  of  January  last,   tliat  he  was  wounded 
in  the  right  liip  and  remamed   at  Frenchtown  after  the 
capitulatfon  ;  that  on  the  22d  before  tiie  prisoners  (who 
were  able  to  walk)  were  marched  for  Maiden,  he   saw 
captain  William  Elliott,  with  whom  lie  had  been  former- 
ly acquainted,  and  of  whom  he  enquired  personally^  whai 
would  be  done  with  the  wounded  prisoners?  Whether 
they  would  be  taken  to  Maiden  that  evening  with  the  other 
prisoners  or  not  i^  he  said  th^  would  not  be  taken  to  Mai- 
den tliat  evening,  but  ^  strong  guard  would  he  leftto protect 
them  against  any  outrage  the  Indians  might  be  disposed 
to  commit.     Elliott  had  a  similar  conversation  withm^j. 
Graves,  captains  Hart  and  Hickman,  and  doctors  Todd 
9nd  Bowers,  in  the  presence  of  this  deponent.    He,  El- 
liott, further  stated  that  sleighs  would  be  sent  to  convey 
the  wounded  to  Maiden  the  next  morning.    This  depo- 
nent further  says  that  the  British  marched  away;,  no 
guard  was  left  to  protect  the  wounded,  and  that  captain 
Elliott,  when  asked  the  reason,  observed  that  some  inter- 
preters were  left  whose  influence  among  the  Indians  was 
greater,  and  that  they  were  better  able  to  protect  as  than 


>'  •.  /■■ 


m 


BAEBAEITTES  OF 


*  'ft  guard.    About  two  or  ihre«  o-clock  in  the  moruiug  oi 
the  23cl  January,  this  deponent  discovered  that  the  iiv* 
terpreters  had  left  the  house  io  which  he  was,  and  he 
never  mw  diem  afterwards ;    that  between  day-light  and 
sun-rise,  on  the  23di  he  saw  a  large  number  of  Indians 
come  to  the  house,  they  burst  open  the  door,  and  in  a  few  ; 
Biimites  commenced  plundering  the  prisoners,  and  toma-   ^ 
hawking  thoKe  who  were  unable  to  walk.     This  deponent 
left  the  house  as  soon  as  possible  and  went  into  the  yard, 
where  a  number  of  his  fellow  prisoners  had  assembled  ; 
he  was  there  claimed  as  a  prisoner  l)y  nn  Indian^  wh6 
^ave  him  some  articjles  to  hold  whilst  he  plundered  tnor^. 
At  this  time  he  was  standing  with  Doctor  Bowers  and 
James  B.  Blythe,  when  an  Indian  without  any  provcca-  ; 
tion,  tomahan^d  Bly the  and  scalped  him.    Shortly,  af-- 
^er,  they  (the  Indians)  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  which'the 
-wounded  had  biften  quartered,  and  burnt  them  down,  with 
the  bodies  of  those  whom  they  had  murclered.     This  de- 
'ponent  was  then  taken  by  the  Indians,  in  company  with 
Doctor  Bower,  Charles  Searls,  Julius  Turner,  and  sev- 

^'leral  others  to  Sandy  Creek}  that  on  the  wayhte^awa, 
^number  of  the  prisoners  who  had  been  tomahawked  ;  that ! 

^■^  whilst  at  Sandy  Creek)  they  murdered  Charles  Searl's* 
^ Thomas S,  Grow,  and  three  or  four  others;  that  this 

•  deponent  was  th«a  packed    with  forty  or  fifty  pounds 
-Weight  and  taken  to  the  river  Bouge,  where  the  Indianfl  i 
rhad  encamped  ;  that  whilst  he  was  there  he  inquired  of 
''Ian  Indian  whether  he  woujd  take  him  to  Maiden,  as  he 

wished  to  be  given  to  Col.  Elliott.  The  TncHan  said  if 
fXJol.  Elliott  told  him  to  do  so  he  Wocld^  as  they  always 
'-  did  as  he  requested  them.     This  deponent  was  six  days ' 

•  with  the  Indians  before  they  took  him  to  Detroit,  where  ^ 
the  was  purchased  by  Stephen   Mack  and  Oliver  W.. 
V Miller,  for ei^ty  dollars;  that  the  British  of5cer  com'*^ 
'  mandingat  Detroit  (Major  Muir)  again  claimecl  him  as 

-  a  British  prisoner,  notwithstanding  his  having  ju8tbee(> 
<  ransomed  from  their  allies,  by  his  own  countrymen,  and 

•  wnt  him  to  Sandwich,  where  he  remained  uritil  the  9tli 
■  or  10th  February,  when  he  was  sent  to  Fort  George» 
I  and  there  parolled.     This  deponent  states,  that  w'hilst  a 

prisoner  at  Sandwkb,  he  was  several  iimc«  treated  in- 


T  ' 


/I 


THE  ENEMY 


159 


•   '.V 


I 


-  J 

J   ■ 


■•    V''( 


^ultingly  by  the  British  officers,  and  by  oi^e  jobjn 
M'Gregor;  thattiie  citizens  geaeraily  treated  the  pns> 
oner4  with  kiadoess  and  attention,  as  far  as  was  in  their 
power^ 

This  being  the  first  opportunity  the  deponent  has  had, 
»f  expressing  his  gratitude  to  the  Americaa  citizens  who 
treated  the  prisoners  with  so  mi;ich  friendship  and  human* 
ity  at  Detroit,  caonot  refrain  from  so  doing.  And  aa 
long  as  he  lives,  the  namf!S  of  Melsrs.  Mack,  Miller, 
Smart,  Woodward,  Williams,  M'Donald,  Hunt,  Maya 
&c.  shall  never  be  forgotten. 

CHAS.  BRADFORD. 
-  Swdm  and  subscribed  to  before  me,  this  29th  day  of 
April,    1813. 

O.  KIEN,  J.  P. 

(Copy)  

United  Stated  Ship  Madison, 
Sackett's  Harhor,  Atk  June,  ms. 
Sib — I  have  the  honor  to  present  you^  by  the  hands  of 
Liutenant  Du^y„  the  British  standard,  taken  Ai  York; 
on  the  27th  of  April  last,  accompanied  by  the  mace,  over 
which  was  hung  a  human  scaip. 

These  articles  were  taken  from  the  parliameniliouse 
by  one  of  my  officers,  and  presented  to  me.  The  scalp 
I  caused  to  bb  presented  to  General  Dearborn,  who  I 
believe,  still  has  it  in  his  possession.  I  also  send,  by  the 
same  gentleman,  one  of  the  British  flags  taken  at  Fort 
George  oo  the  27  th  of  May. 
fs^  1  have  the  honor  to  be. 

Very  respectfully,  Sir, 

Your  most  obt.  humble  servt. 

ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 
Hpn.  William  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Wash< 
iogton. 

A  true  copy  from  the  original,  filed  in  the  Navy  De- 
darimeat,  July  22d,  1813, 

W.  JONES,    * 


#t 


?i 


.'  y,- 


■  1  •         * 


>  '  • 


I* 


v-^.k'.;    mil  ■»■<'■'■'■«»■■«* ' 


154 


}  r 


BARBAHrriES  OP 


J::' 


ADDENDA. 


X       •»-■' 


*.- 


Washington  City,  July  30* 
]Pfom  WilUam  Berry  ^  midshwtnan  in  the  frigate  Chesa*^ 

peake.  ^ 

piR— I  confkler  myself  bound  tp  lay  before  you  what 
came  under  ray  kuowledge  while  on  board  the  Chesa- 
peake»  to  well  as  Mi,board  the  Shaofion* 

After  the  eo^my  l^d  coin|dete  possesnioD  of  the  ship* 
wMAhipmeo  Randolph  and  Flushman  were  ordered  frocn 
the  fore  and  maio'top.  In  coming  dov n  the  shrouds  lieut. 
Falkner  (the  British  officer)  said  to  his  nien»  kiU  those 
i^kumted  rea&ila.  Then,  ann  immediately,  several  mua« 
kets  were  discharged  at  them,  but  without  effect.  My 
£tatioQ  was  in  the  mizen-top,  where  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  their  actioos.  I  was  looking  on  deck  when  I 
caw  one  of  the  C^eeapeake^s  men  crawling  along,  attempt- 
ing to  get  bdow  wHh  one  of  Ms  legs  dff.  One  of  the  ene- 
tt^  stepped  up  to  him  nfith  his  cuSas^i  and  immediately 
jpuit  on  end  to  his  existence.  Lieut.  S'alkncr  looked  up 
ID  the  mizen-top ;  pointed  at  me,  said  he  to  his  men,  go  up 
three  of  you  and  throw  that  damned  Yankee  overboard. 
They  immediately  rushed  up,  seiziitg  n>e  byihe  collar, 
sow,  said  they,  you  damned  Tattkee,  you  shall  swim  for 
U,  attempting lo  throw  mie  overboard;  but  I  got  witlun 
the  rigpogy  when  one  of  them  kicked  roe  hi  the  breast, 
which  was  the  cause  of  my  falling  ;|being  stunped  by  the 
fall,  I  lay  some  time  senseless,  and  when  I  came  to,  I  mas- 
cut  over  the  head  with  a  cutlass,  which  nearly  terminated 
my  existence.  Eleven  of  our  midshipmen  were  confined 
In  a  small  place,  nine  feet  by  six,  with  an^ld  sail  to  lie  on, 
and  a  guard  at  the  door,  until  a  day  or  two  before  our  ar* 
'rival  at  HaliliBx ;  and  likewise  eleven  of  us  upon  five  ra-.; 
tions,  and  some  days  only  one  meal.  Our  clothes  were 
taken  on  board  of  the  Shannon  ;  lieut.  ^Vallis,  tlie  com-^ 
manding  officer  on  board,  would  not  let  us  ts^e  our  clothes 
below  with  us,  but  pledged  his  word  and  honor  as  an  ojBTi- 
Ccr,  we  should  receive  our  clothes.  But  we  discovered 
next  morning  that  their  midshipmen  htul  on  our  clothes 
and  side  arms.  We  were  conversuig  together  respecting 
ow  <<lothes-  oae  of  their  ipidsbipmeu  overheard  our  coa- 


■^■>^ 


m 


'-«,• 


,^ 


V»i»»i<'''**-^-^ryT'r^-».»?WM'''1'iMt~r<.ff<<»'i'5^'.i 


v^it'm.'^l^ilitM 


w 


•ttliE  ENEMt'. 


ISt 


VcrsailoD,  and  made  ar«p9rtto  the  lieuteMMit  cloBnaaod- 
ing.  ^e  then  sent  word  to  m,  that  if  we  eaid  any  thing 
more  about  the  clothes,  he  would  put  us  in  the  foie-bokl 
with  tlie  men.  We  expected  to  receive  our  clothes  when 
we  arrived  in  port,  but  I  assure  you,  sir,  nothing  wtiis  ef^ 
er  restored.  Other  mteaUy  thingt  cecurredy  wiiich  our 
officers  will,  when  they  return,  make  know  to  the  publie» 
disp'oceful  to  a  mvUiBed  nation*  If  your  request  could 
have,  beoBt  made  sooner,  I  should  have  I'elt  gratified  in 
jnaking  a  fuller  stateroeot. 

>    I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  4he  highest  respect,     ^ 

WIJLLIAM  BERRT. 

IfoN.  L.  CondUi  Washmgttiu 

Another  circumstance  took  place  <m  bowd  which  entire^ 
\y  escaped  my  memory  until  this  moment  Several  of 
dfie  officers  had  money  laken  from  them  which  they  r&- 
^ceived  from  the  Chesapeake  as  pnze  money.  Mr.  Hig- 
inibothafii,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recoUeot,  had  upwards  of 
130doUait. 


>'• 


\:i> 


i;!fi*«^,.  T    V        Gboroetown,  July  30, 1813. 

;    BiB~-Havio^  perused  a  letter  of  yours  to  Berry^  re- 
iquestiaff  information  respecting  Ike  treatment  of  the  Amer* 
lean  dicers  and  seamen  of  the  late  Chesttieake,  I  censid- 
uier  myself  bound,  sir,  to  lay  before  yw  vW  came  under 
my  koKMvledge.    My  haviog  been  wounded  and  remain- 
ing on  board  the  Chesapeake,  mightnot  give  me  that  scope 
for  observation  which  others  ppssessed  ;  but  I  am  sorry 
to  say  many  things  transpitediilisgractfnl to  the  character 
'%of  a  brave  enemy.    Whilst  undressing  myself  in  the  steer- 
age, after  the  Ainericans  were  driven  mIow  or  had  sur* 

V  rendered,  and  after  reststftnce  had  ceased,  I  believe  en* 
|j  tirely,  several  muskets  and  pistols  were  at  once  pointed 
i^;  down  the  hatchway,  and  discharged  in  the  direction  of  Uie 
^icookpit ;  and  as  the  eteeinge  and  cockpit  were  fin^ 

uwith  wounded,  in  all  probabiUity  seme  of  them  were  kilhd 

V  outright.  It  was  midshipman  Hopewell,  and  B9t  livings 
ion,  who  was  so  inhuntsDlyitreated^as  described  in  the 
public  prints.    It  has  been  the  custom  in  oar  Qavy  to  take 

V  the  side  arms  of  officers  (prisoneils)  but  to.  restore  them 


:\  .-, 


He: 


*'VV 


: '  .'.  \-. 


150 


BARBARITIES  OF 


f: 


i\ 


i 


on  their  leaving  the  ship.  Oun  i^re  taken,  vorn,  and 
never  restored,  together  with  what  nautical  instniments 
they  could  lay  their  hands  on.  When  spoken  to  by  the 
American  officers  on  the  subject,  th<Q  answer  was,  such 
things  mere  free  plunder,  A>day  or  two  after  the  action 
I  was  conversing  with  lieut  Budd  and  Mr.  J^ichoUs, 
near  the  taffel,  respectiii^  the  engagement,  when  it  waa 
observed  some  of  the  Shannon's  men  were  listening  to  our 
conver|Bition.  Immediately  after,  lieut.  Falkner,  the 
commanding  officer,  ordered  centint^ls  to  be  placed  at  the 
mizen  mast.  And,  said  he  to  theui,  if  you  see  any  of  the 
Chesapeake's  officers  abaft  the  mizen-mast,  cut  them 
down;  if  you  see  them  conversing  together,  cut  them 
down  without  hesitation. 

It  will  be  remembered  thie  three  officers  who  caused  this 
order  were  all  sevenely  wounded.  We  received  no  cau- 
tion and  overheard  it  by  accident.  So  great  was  the  race 
for  plunder,  that  captain  Lawrence,  before  his  death, 
could  not  obtain  a  bottle  of  wine  from  his  private  sea 
stores,  without  a  note  from  the  doctor  to  the  lieut.  com- 
manding. I  pass  over  the  robbing  of  the  midshipmen  on 
board  the  Shannon,  as  it  did  not  come  under  my  immedi- 
ate notice.  If  your  request  could  have  been  made  earli- 
er, I  should  have  felt  gratified  in  making  a  fuller  state- 
ment. 

Tours  respectfully, 

^v    ,  Wm.  a.  WEAVER. 

lion,  Lewis  Condit,  Washington, 


.■„.,.■<*' 


■tii^^X^'   ■■  .- 


Mis  Majeshfs  Ship  San  Vcmiiige,  « 

/  Chesapeake,  May  10th,  1813. 

Sir,— 

I  haye  to  acknowledge  the  reeeipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  8th  instant,  respecting  a  man  named  O'iN^cale,  taken 
by  the  detachment  from  the  squadron  under  the  orders 
of  rear  Admiral  Cockbum*  This  roan  has  been  released 
upon  the  application  ojf  the  inagistrates  of  Havre  de 
Grace,  on  parole^ 


I 't'  .f 


f>r 


THE  ENEMT.  ,57 

he  wmild  certiUnly  h.v*  been  S^^J^^"^^ 

I  htTe  the  honor  to  pe.  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servanL 
JOHN  BOttLASE  WAHBEK 

Brig  Om.  MilUr,  commanding  the  United  States  form 
*<?.  «&c.  (&c,  Baltimore.  .      ,      ' 


r.  .:^a>. 


iit'- 


"^«.- 


■fV;. 


y''^:^'^' 


■*;.  r^ 


T 


.«v 


.*. 


.:.:■.  }i--v- 


■^ 


^^  ■■:^^  '■ 


!>•    ***  . 


^.1 


i 


i 


.\;-'^:- 


I 


:'^\ii: 


■tfa, 


I 


■  i 


SUPPLEMENTARY. 

Important  Documents.         » 

The  subjoined  documents  were  found  among 
Gen.  Proctor's  papers,  iAken  at  the  battle 
of  the  Thairies  :  We  give  them  a  place  in 
the  present  volume  under  a  conviction 
that  every  American  into  whosehant^^  it 
may  fall  will  view  it  (as  we  do)  as  a  record 
wodh  preserving,  and  that  they  will  be 
perused  with  no  small  degree  of  inter- 
est. 

€opi/  of  a  letter  from  Sir  George  Prevost  to 
Com,  Sir  James  Lucas  Yeo, 

Head-€tuarter8,  KingstOii,  } 
19th  September,  1813.      \ 

Sir, 

The  Centre  Division  of  the  Upper  Can- 
ada army  is  placed  in  a  situation  very  critical, 
and  one  novel  in  the  system  of  war  ;  that  of 
investing  a  force  vastly  superior  in  numbers, 
within  a  strongly  intrenched  position.  It  was 
adopted  and  has  been  maintained  from  a  con- 
fident expectation,  that  with  the  co-operation 
of  the  squadron  under  your  command,  a 
combined  attack,  ere  this,  could  have  effect- 
ed on  the  enemy,  at  Fort  George,  with  every 
prospect  of  success.  To  the  local  disadvan- 
tages of  the  positions  occupied  by  our  ar- 
my, have  unhappily  been  added  disease  and 
desertion  to  a  degree,  calling  for  immediate 
remedy.    You  are,  therefore,  required  ta 


•»>■•,..'•■■ 


■i4\. 


THE  ENEMY. 


:^. 


ria<. 


150 


I>roceed  with  the  fleet  under  your  coiiinmnd, 
with  the  least  i  ossible  delay,  to  ifhe  l»ead  of 
the  lake,  affordijag  sufficient  convoy  to  the 
small  vessek  containing  those  stores  and  sup- 
plies of  which  the  army  is  in  the  most  press- 
ing want.  Upon  your  amval  near  the  head- 
quartei-s  of  the  Centre  Division,  you  will  con- 
sult with  Maj.  Gen.  De  Rottenburg,  who 
will  unite  in  his  person,  the  civil  and  military 
command  in  Upper  Canada,  upon  my  with- 
drawing from  the  province,  or  upc>n  the  eligi- 
bility of  a  combined  attack,  for  the  purpose  of 
dislodging  the  enemy  from  the  position  of  Fort 
George,  by  a  rapid  forward  nxovement  of  the 
army,  bringing  up  in  battery  at  the  same  time, 
the  heavy  ordnance,  mortars  and  howitzers 
now  embarked.  This  attack  must  be  sup- 
ported bvthe  countenance  of  your  squadron, 
and  tlie  rre  of  such  vessels  as  are  anned  with 
a  description  of  ordnance  favorable  to  it.-^ 
Should  this  attempt  appear  to  you  to  be  at- 
tended with  too  great  hazaVd  to  the  squadron, 
under  the  possible  circumstance  of  the  ene- 
my aj^earing  on  the  lake,  you  will  in  that 
case  distinctly  state  your  sentiments  to  Maj. 
Gen.  De  Rottenburg,  who  will  immediately 
upon  ascertaining  your  inability  to  assist  him, 
take  measures  for  evacuating  the  position  he 
now  occupies.  In  the  execution  of  which 
movement,  you  will  give  his  army  every  sup-  . 
port  and  assistance,  consistent  with  the  sme^ 
ty  of  your  vessels;  and  having  performed 
this  service,  you  will  pursue  such  measures* 


'..V 


^.■:M 


190 


^ABBARITIES  01 


as  sliall  appear  most  probable  speedily  to^n- 
mre  the  acquisition  of  the  naval  ascendency. 
^  You  are  already  acquainted  with  the  de- 

>  ^ided  line  of  condtict.  which  i  wisli  to  be  ob- 

'::  served  on  Lake  Krie,  by  capt.  Barclay,  and 
you  will  not  failio  impress  on^diat  officer  the 
absolute  necessily  cf  regaining  the  naval  su- 

[  perlority,  iiid  to  preserve  uninterrupted  the 
intercourse  between  Amh^rsiburg  and  Long 
Pcint,  in  order  that  the  supplies  and  stores  in 
depot  at  the  latter  place,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  lake,  may  be  ti-ansported  in  salety  to  the 
B^ht  Division. 

/I  The  flotilla  of  transports  on  Lake  Ontario 
are  to  be  kept  employed,  as  long  as  the  season 
will  admit,  in  the  conveyance  of  the  provisi- 
ons and  other  supplies  collected  at  Kingston, 
and  destined  for  the  Right  and  Centre  Divisir 
pns  of  the  anny,  and  they  are  to  receive 
from  your  force  the  necessary  protections^  ^r 
I  bave  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  4^^^^' 

Your  lioost  6bed't.  humble  serv't.  :a)^ 

^ ,    (Signed)  GEORGE  PRE Y0S1\   i 

%;,^  ,  .^  Commander  of  the  &rces.  ^;^ 

,  Q6m,  Sir  J,  L.  Yeo. 


.«•:.»' 


3  ^^\ 


'^.>> 


-fr.^,  •■>'*•■,■   ■•;■''''«■;-■ 

•   '^SPEECH  OF  TECUMSEH,t  ?^ 
In  the  name  of  the  Indian  Chief Sy  and  Warriors^ 
T  to  Maj.  Gen  PEQCTOR,  as  Fepresenta- 
live  of  their  Great  Father  the  King,  ->■■ 


U^t  vi 


,ti  ,.  .i^yi,-?    ■'   Ut  m^Ki-^^yk  / 


•.'*->■-' 


Father,  Idsiisn  to  your  Children;  You  see 


^ 


v* 


v%  --■,*-j^;'. 


..  '*' 


•     \ 


ncy. 

de- 

ob- 

and 

the 

su- 

the 

-ong 

sm 

dof 

the 


•*•:.. 


'.v  ■ 


^i}W\ 


'^^i^'S'^fkS  ■■'    fr 


.n- 


-"■'.':..l  'rtLE  ENEMY. 


v4fti 


them  now  all  before  you.  The  war  before 
thisj  our  British  Father  gave  the  hatchet  to 
hi.s  red  children,  when  our  old  Chiefs  were 
alire  ;  they  are  now  all  dead.  In  that  war 
our  father  was  thrown  on  his  back,  by  the 
Americans,  and  our  father  took  them  by  the 
hand,  without  our  knowledge  ;  and  we  are 
afraid  that  our  father  will  do  so  again  at  this 
time. 

t  Summer  before  last,  when  1  came  forward 
%ith  my  red  brethren,  and  were  ready  to 
take  up  the  hatchet  in  favor  of  our  British 
father,  we  were  told  not  to  be  in  a  hurry^ 
that  he  had  not  yet  determined  to  fight  the 
Americans* 

m^IAsten^  When  war  was  declared,  our  fa- 
ther stood  up,  and  gave  us  the  tomahawk, 
and  told  us  he  wa«  now  ready  to  strike  tiiQ 
: Americans  ;  that  he  wanted  our  assistance; 
and  that  he  certainly  would  get  us  our  lands 
back,  which  the  Americans  had  taken  from 
us. 

Listen.  You  told  us  at  th«t  time  to  bring 
forward  our  families  to  this  place;  we  did 
so  ;  and  you  promised  to  take  care  of  them, 
and  that  they  should  want  for  nothing,  while 
the  men  would  go  and  fight  the  enemy ;  that 
we  were  not  to  trouble  ourselves  with  the 
enemy's  garrisons;  that  we  knew  nothing 
about  them,  and  that  our  father  would  at- 
tend to  that  part  of  the  business.  You  als^ 
told  your  red  children,  that  you  would  take 
good  care  of  your  garrison  here,  which  made 

QUI'  hearts  glad. 

'Of     .<■•'■.  ' 


^JW* 


■■  -^y 


'V    -1  ' 


'rw-' 


.'^ 


M:  ■■'-■f:.- 


I;62 


;*•, 


'«^-^. 


V. 


M^ 


■■^1 


Is 

ii 


BARBARITIES  OF 


Listen.  When  we  last  went  to  the  Rap- 
ids, it  is  true  we  gave  you  little  assistance ; 
it  is  liardto  fight  people  who  live  like  ground 
bogs. 

r'Mer,  Usten,     Ovlt  fleet  has  gone  out: 

^iwe  know  they  have  fought,  we  heard  the 
great  guns;  but  know  nothing  of  what  has 
Kappen^l  to  our  father  with  me  one  arm.* 
Our  ships  are  gone  one  way,  and  we  are  ve^- 
ry  much  astonished  to  see  our  father  tying 
up  every  thing  and  preparing  to  run  awey 
the  other,  without  letting  his  red  children 
know  what  his  intentions  are.  ^ 

,-     You  always   told   iis    to  remain  here 

?  and  take  care  of  our  land&.  It  made  our 
hearts  glad  to  hear  that  was  your  wish ;  our 
great  faflier  the  king  is  the  head,  atid  you 

,  represent  him*    You  always  told  us  that  you 

I  would  never  draw  your  foot  off  the  British 
ground;  but  now,  fiither,  we  see  you  draw- 
ing back,  and  We  are  sorry  to  see  our  father 
doing  so  without  seeing  the  enemy.    We 

'  must  compare  our  father's  conduct  to  a  fat 
animal,  that  carries  its  tail  upon  its  back : 

r  but  when  affrighted,  it  drops  it  between  its 

]  legs  and  runs  ofL 
'  FatheTy  listen.    The  Americans  have  not 
yet  debated  us  by  land,  neither  jyre  we  sure- 
that  they  have  done  so  by  water :  we  there- 
fore wish  to  remain  here,  and  fight  our  ene- 


Hlom.  Barclay,  ivho  commRndecl  the  British  fleet,  lost 
an  arm  at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar. 


^^.^ 


7-   ■•(:;■;  r'! 


,  I 


''%:^^:- 


if*r, 


*    I. 


X:. 


'!^';> 


' '             .'" ' 

•  y.  < 

:^  r-:-      THE  ENEMY.    ^■. 

•■V-V¥^. 

163 

my,  should  they  make  their  appearaiStertf 
they  defeat  us,  we  will  then  retreat  with  our 
ather. 

At  the  battle  of  the  Rapids,  last  war,  the 
Americans  certainly  defeated  us,  and  when 
we  retreated  to  our  father^s  fort,  at  that  place, 
the  gates  were  shut  against  us.  We  were 
afraid  that  it  would  now  be  the  ease ;  but 
instead  of  that,  we  see  our  British  father  pre-^ 
paring  to  march  out  of  hi&  garrison. 
*  Father.  You  have  got  the  arms  and  am- 
munition which  our  great  father  sent  for  his 
red  children.  If  you  liave  any  idea  of  going 
aw  ay,  giire  them  to  us  and  you  may  go  and 
welcome.  For  us,  our  lives  are  in  the  hands 
of  tl^e  Great  Spirit ;  we  are  determined  to 
defend  our  lands  ;  and  if  it  is  his  will,  we  wish 
to  leave  our  bones  upon  them. 
>    Amersiburgh,  Sept  1813. 


"%■ 


"J 


'T> 


The. following  interesting  extract  of  a  letter^ 
was  written  by  a  capt.  of  the  I3ritish  dra- 
goons, (addressed  to  his  parents  in  England) 
and  found  among  gen.  rroctpr's  papers — 
and  we  are  assured  by  an  officer  in  the  ar- 
my, that  it  was  found  witli  a  broken  seal ; 
— probably  having  been  intiusted  to  a  dis- 
tinguished officer  ofthe  British  army,  who 
fearing  it  might  contain  somthing  eoncern- 
iiig  his  own  conduct,  his  curiosity  led  him 
to  examine  its  contents.  i       :  .^'^ 


K 


r  \ 


V- 


i'1;    -V"'!/ 


■H.-\:j' 


,V%J!,.- 


i»i  »•• 


I  y.  , 


**:,s.'^ 


164 


■ '■    "  -  .■■•'■*^,  .       ^«l  *  ^  „    ■."    f^  "Ml  '-<''«.'  1  ■'> 

BARBARITIES  OF 


■-  .v.'  .'  '■' ' 


^,-. 


■"-•.•^ 


Extract  from  a  letter  written  at  Detroit^  *i 

September  2Q,  1813^^"^ 

**  Our  fleet  upon  the  lake,  sailed  about  20 
days  ago  from  our  port  into  that  of  the 
\.  Americans,  after  a  close  action  of  three 
hours  and  a  halt  without  one  making  their 
escape;  the  consequence  of  which  is  we 
have  lost  all  hopes  of  ever  j-egaining  the 
command  of  the  lake ;  and  our  army,  coi> 
sisting  of  about  550  regulars  and  2500  wild 
Indians,  are  now  upon  the  retreat  to  Thames 
liver,  although  contrary  to  the  wishes  oi  the 
Indians ;  who  have  declared  they  will  not 
budge  one  inch  further,  and  remind  us  of  our 
general  having  promised  to  conquer  or  leave 
tlieir  bones  with  them ,  as  we  are  now  com- 
pletely in  the  savaged  power,  we  are  oblig- 
ed, in  a  great  measure,  to  act  as  they  think 
proper.  The  celebrated  chief  Tecumseh, 
cUned  with  me  last  Friday,  and  assured  me 
his  Indians  were  determined  to  give  battle 
the  moment  the  Americans  approach.^  Our 
general,  should  he  act  contrary  to  tlieir  wish- 
es, may  repent  his  rash  opposition  ;  however 
prudent  he  may  conceive  a  retreat  at  such 
an  awful  crisis.  Tliese  savages  have  no  mer- 
cy.— The  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  de- 
cides immediately  the  wretch  who  falls  in 
their  hands,  and  many  dread  the  war  whoop 
may  sound  in  our  ears,  if  we  act  contrary  to 
their  ideas,  which  are  as  wild  as  themselves. 
We  have  spread  a  net  which  may  catch  us. 
/  hate  these  savage  harhaiians.    You  canuot 


■>■;■*-; 


•'.  /.\-l 


*r??"' 

^  -    THE  ENEMT. 

{»lace  confidence  in  them;  and  without  a 
brce  sufficient  to  ke^p  them  in  clieck,  tliey 
are  more  plague  tlian  profit/* 


■»*^'  /■ 


.:■«./■ 


>> 


*  Although  the  following  article  has  no  con- 
nection with  the  documents,  for  the  perpetua- 
tion of  which  this  volume  was  put  to  press, 
tlie  editor  thinks  is  sufficiently  mteresting  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States  to  give  it 
a  place  here.  The  introductory  paragraph, 
within  brackets,  is  from  the  pen  of  the  able 
and  patriotic  editor  of  the  *'  JaaUimore  Weeh- 
hf  Register  J* 


i^^'^'ti 


British  Parliament. 


pThe  following  debate  is»  in  many  respects, 
V  highly  interesting  to  the  people  of  the  U.,^ 

.   4  States.    If  the  representationof  lord  Coch- 

,   ram  be  true,  how  humble  is  the  state  of  the 

r  British  sailor! — If  what  Mr.  Croker    ad- 

.?   vances  is  correct,  how  honorable  to  our 

own  tars ! — Little  did  Mr.  C.  apprehend 

the  splendid  eulogium  he  was  passing  on 

^  the  Afnerican  seamen,  in  the  poilrait  he 

^  -  gave  of  the  gallantry  of  those  they  so  easily 

Nis*  conquered  J  ^ 

JULY,  1813.*— STATE  OP   THE  NAVY. 

liord  Cochrane  rose  in  pursuance  of  his  notice,  to  call  the 
attention  of  the  house  to  tlie  preseut  state  of  tiie  navy.— 


■'^.■f 


J      ._ 

C      1 


i>$. 


,ljl«  •"■,»••  •* *-• 


*  *  t„    ^  ♦  *.v   •*-<♦    -Wft^. 


i»* 


ie§        :;  BABBARITIES  OF 


^  •  ■■ 


lie  would  not  long  trespass  on  the  attention  of  the  house  , 
In  order  to  place  before  them  in  a  clear  and  perspicuous  >jr.: 
manner  his  sentiments  upon  this  most  important  subject,  > 
he  had  embodied  them  in  a  resolution,  which   members  ; 
.would  have  an  opportunity  of  perusing,  and  weighing  with 
4ue  deliberalioa  during  the  period  of  adjournment,  atid 
the  truth  of  which  they  would  thus  have  an  opportunity 
of  ascertaining.    He  could  only  say,  that  to  the  correct-  ' 
oesa  of  the  facts  which  he  should  state,  he  could  most  fully 
pledge  himself.    He  would  then  conte  -^  '..mself  with  read- 
ing Ills  resolution,  and  should  reserve  whatever  else  he  - 
might  have  to  oflfer  to  the  house  till  he  heard  whether  any  • 
objection  should  be  made-~an  event  which  he  did  iv)t 
anticipate,  as  he  saw  not  upon  what  ground  objection 
coaUi  rise.    The  noble  lord  then  real  the  olio  wing  res-    . 
olution. 

;    **  That  tlie  honor  of  his  majesty^s  crown,  tlie  glory  and  .. 
safety  of  the  country,  does  in  a  great  degree  depend  on 
the  maintenance,  especially  in  time  of  war,  of  an  efficient 
naval  establishment.  - 

'     That  during  the  late  and  present  war  with  France, 
splendid  victories  have  been  gained'  by  his  majesty's  . 
fleets  and  vessels  of  war,  over  ^  vast  superiority  in  th& 
number  of  guns  and  men,  and  in  the  weight  of  metal. 

That  these  victories,  gained  under  such  circumstan- 
cej,  were  obtained  by  the  skill  and  intrepidity  of  the  of-  " 
ficers,  and  by  the  energy,  zeal  and  valor  of  the  crews. '.-^r 
?  That  during  the  present  war  with  the  United  States  of 
America,  his  majesty's  naval  service  has,  in  several  in- 
stances, experienced  defeat,  in  a  manner,  and  to  a  degree, 
ainforeseen  and  unexpected  by  this  house,  by  the  admi- 
ralty, and  by  the  country  at  large. 

That  the  cause  of  these  lamentable  defeats  is  not  any 
superiority  possessed  by  the  enemy,  either  in  skill  or  val- 
or, nor  the  well  known  difference  in  the  weight  of  aiejt&I,^  ^ 
which  heretofore  has  been  deemed  ujiimportant ;  but  aris^  ^ 
es  chieflv  from  the  decayed  and  heartless  state  of  the 
crews  of  his  majesty's  ships  of  war,  compared  with  their- 
former  energy  and  izeal — and  compared,  on  the  other 
dai^d,  with  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  the  cr^wa  of  the 


i^y- 


',i??  v^"' '  '>}':i\.is:. .!  ^ ■• 


iW;^^'-:- A'iv!i,(A'!.'>!iV'"".'x  »  W.K.1'.- .V .«  aj , 


^tHlE  ENEMt. 


.?# 


let 


he 


tN- 


.  "that  it  is  an  indisputable  fact,  that  long  and  unlimited 
^ItfOnfinement  to  a  ship,  as  well  as  to  any  other  particular 
spot,  and  especially  when  accompanied  with  the  diet  ne- 
cessarily that  of  ships  of  war,  and  a  deprivation  of  the 
usual. recreations  of  man,  seldom  fails  to  produce  a  rapid 
detiay  of  the  physical  powers~-the  natural  parent,  in  such 
cases,  of  despondency  of  mind. 

;  That  the  late  and  present  war  against  France  (includ- 
ing; a  short  inter/al  of  peace,  in  which  the  navy  was  not 
paid  oil)  have  lasted  upwards  of  twenty  years,  and  th$kt 
a  new  naval  war  has  recently  commenced. 
^v  That.the  duration  of  the  term  of  service- in  his  majes- 
ty's navy  is  absolutely  without  any  limitation :  and  that 
there  is  no  mode  provided  for  by  law,  for  the  fair  and 
impartial  discharging  of  men  therefrom ;  and  that,  accord- 
ing to  the  present  practice,  decay,  disease,  incurable 
wounds,  or  death,  can  alone  procure  the  release  of  any 
seaman,  of  whatever  age,  or  whatever  length  of  service. 
That  seamen  who  have  become  wholly  unfit  for  active 
service,  are,  in  place  of  being  discharged  and  rewarded, 
according  to  their  merits  and  their  sufferings,  transferred 
to  ships  on  harbor  duty,  where  they  are  placed  under  of- 
ficers wholly  unacquainted  with  their  character  and  for- 
mer conduct,  who  have  no  other  means  to  estimate  them, 
but  on  the  scale  of  their  remainine  activity  and  bodily 
strength ;  where  there  is  no  distinction  made  between  the 
former  petty  officer  and  the  common  seaman ;  between 
}-outh  and  age ;  and  when  those  worn  out  and  wounded 
seamen,  who  have  spent  the  best  part  of  their  lives,  or 
have  lost  their  health  in  the  service  of  their  country, 
have  to  perform  a  duty  more  laborious  than  that  of  the 
convict  felons  in  the  dock  yards ;  and  with  this  remark- 
able distinction,  that  the  labors  of  the  latter  have  a  known 
termination. 

-'  That  though  the  seamen,  thus  transferred,  and  thus 
employed,  have  all  been  invalided,  they  skre  permitted  to 
re-enter  ships  of  war  on  actual  service  :  and  Ihat  such  is 
the  nature  of  the  harbor  duty,  that  many,  in  order  to  es- 
cape from  it,  do  so  re-enter ;  there  being  no  limitation  as 
to  the  number  of  times  of  their  being  inyftlidedy  or  that 
of  their  re-entering.  •  Jii 


■i^ 


>.>.i : 


S-  ■:; 


%'' 


U. 


<^' 


16i 


BARBARITIES  OF 


§1- 

m 


That  to  obtain  a  diBcharge  from  the  navy,  by  piircliaae> 
the  sum  of  eighty  pounds  sterling  is  required  by  the  ad- 
miralty, which  together  with  other  expenees,  amount  to 
twenty  times  the  original  bounty,  md  is  equal  to  ail  that 
«  seaman  can  save,  with  the  most  rigid  economy,  during 
the  average  period  In  which  he  is  capable  of  service ; 
that  this  sum  is  demanded  atike  from  men  of  all  u^ea  and 
of  all  lengths  of  servitude ;  from  those  pensioned  for 
wounds,  and  also  from  those  invalided  for  harbor  duty  ; 
thus  converting  the  funds  of  Greenwich  and  the  reward 
of  former  senices  into  a  means  of  recruiting  the  navy ; 
that  such  is  the  horror  which  seamen  have  of  this  useless 
prolongation  of  their  captivity,  that  those  who  are  able,  in 
order  to  escape  front  it,  actually  return  into  the  bands  of 
government  all  those  fruits  of  their  toil  which  formerly 
they  looked  to  as  tlie  means  of  some  little  comfort  in  their 
old  age.  :;;.i'x  ■  '■  '  >rr^^i-^?r^''; 

That  besides  these  capital  grievances,  tending  to  per- 
petuate the  impress  service,  were  are  others  worthy  the 
serious  attention  of  this  house. 

That  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  on  board  of  his 
majesty's  ships  and  vessels  of  war,  though  absent  or  for- 
eign stations  for  many  years,  receive  no  wages  until  th(iir 
return  home,  and  are  of  course  deprived  of  the  comforts 
which  those  wages,  paid  at  short  intervals,  would  procure 
them ;  that  this  is  now  more  severely  felt,  owing  to  the 
recent  practice  of  postponing  declarations  of  war  until 
long  after  the  war  has  been  actually  begun  ;  by  which 
means  the  navy  is  deprived  under  the  name  of  droits,  of 
the  first  fruits  »nd  greatest  proportion  of  the  prize  money 
to  which  they  have  heretofore  been  entitled ;  and  thus, 
and  by  the  examinations  of  the  courts  of  admiralty,  the 
proportion  of  captures  which  at  last  devolves  to  the  navy 
is  much  too  small  to  produce  those  effects  which  formerly 
were  so  beneficial  to  the  country  ;  that  while  their  wages 
are  withheld  from  them  abroad,  when  paid  at  home^ 
which,  to  prevent  desertion,  usually  takes  place  on  the  day 
before  they  sail  out  again,  having  no  opportunity  to  go 
on  shore,  they  are  compelled  to  buy  slops  of  Jews  on 
board,  or  receftre  Uiem  from  government  15  per  cent 
tiigher  than  their  acknowledged  valuef  and  being  paid 


c  < 


'  iA 


•art'' 


■'     y^*. 


.•■V     ,_: 


v.:   ."i  t..V^1C^c'.-  >l'Al  ...   i- t.,TS^,.-^r:  ^'^     ^ 


THE  ENEMY. 


j' 


109 


iii.i 


in  biirik  notes,  t})ey  are  naturally  indtic«<i  to  exeliaiige 
them  for  money  current  in  otlier  countries,  and  which  it 
is  notorious  that  they  do  at  an  enormous  loss ;  that  the 
recovery  of  the  pay  and  prize  money  by  tbe  widows,  chii- 
dren,  or  relatives  of  seamen,  is  rendered  as  difficult  as 
possiMe ;  and  finally,  the  regulations  with  regard  to  pas- 
sing of  the  examinatibn  requisite,  previous  to  an  admis- 
sion to  the  benefits  of  Greenwich  hospital,  subject  the  dis- 
abled seaman  to  so  many  difficulties,  and  to  such  long  de- 
lays, that  in  numerous  cases,  he  is  compelled  to  beg  his 
way  in  the  pursuit  of  a  booDi,  the  amount  of  which,  even 
in  event  of  the  loss  of  both  eyes,  or  of  both  arms,  does  not 
equal  that  of  the  common  board  wages  of  a  footman. 

That  one  of  the  best  and  strongest  motives  to  meritori- 
ous conduct  in  military  and  naval  men,  is  the  prospect 
of  promotion,  while  suCh  promotion  is^  at  the  same  time, 
free  of  additional  expence  to  the  nation ;  but  that  to  the 
British  naval  service,  this  powerful  and  honorable  incite- 
ment has  ceased  to  exist,  seeing  that  the  means  of  reward- 
log  merit  has  been  almost  wholly  withdrawn  from  naval 
commanders  in  chie^  under  whose  inspection  services 
are  performed:  in  foct  it  is  a  matter  of  perfect  notoriety, 
that  it  has  become  next  to  impossible  tor  a  meritorious 
subordinate  petty  officer  or  seaman  to  rise  to  the  rank 
of  lieutenant;  that  in  scarcely  any  instance  promotior 
or  employment  is  now  to  be  obtuned  in  the  navy,  through 
any  other  means  than  what  is  called  parliamentary  in- 
tetest — ^that  is,  the  corrupt  influence  o(  boroughs. 

That  owing  to  these  causes,  chiefly,  the  crews  of  his 
majesty's  ships  of  war  have,  in  general,  become  in  a  very 
consideraUe  degree  worn  out  and  disheartened,  and  inad- 
equate to  the  performance,  with  their  wonted  energy  and 
effect,  of  those  arduous  duties  which  belong  to  the  naval 
service;  and  that  hence  has  arisen  by  slow  and  imper- 
ceptible degrees,  the  enormous  augmentation  of  our  ships 
and  men,  while  the  naval  force  of  our  enemies  is  actually 
much  less  than  in  former  years. 

That,  as  a  remedy  for  this  alarming  national  evil,  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  that  the  grievances  of  the  navy,  some 
of  which  only  have  been  recited  above,  should  be  redress- 
ed ;  that  a  linitatioa  of  the  duration  of  service  should  foe 


V 


^;> 


\^ 


f  ■--(  •  ■>- 


■^':':\-:.    '   .;' 


'^v»;^ 


/* 


-■»*■ 


>.'/*  ' .,    . 


1. 


i 


I 


i'i 


':4 


I'' 


..jfc 


170 


BARBARITIES  OF 


17- 
■:<m- 


adopted,  accoriftpHnicd  >^ith  the  certainty  of  a  Miitablfe  rc> 
ward,  not  euhject  to  any  of  the  effects  of  partiality,  and 
that  measures  shonid  be  taken  to  cause  the  comfortable 
shualiooB  in  the  ordinary  of  the  dock  yard~the  places 
of  polrters,  messen^rs,  &c.  Sic.  in  and  about  the  oHices 
belonging  to  the  sea  service,  the  under  wardens  of  the 
naval  forests,  &c.-to  be  bestowed  oh  meritorious  decayed 
petty  officers  and  seamen,  instead  of  beii^,  as  they  oow 
generally  are,  the  wages  of  corruption  in  boroUgh  elec- 
tions. 

That  this  house,  convinced  that  a  decrease  of  enei^ 
of  character  cannot  be  compensated  by  an  augmentation 
of  the  number  of  ships,  guns,  and  men,  which  is,  at  the 
!^me  time,  a  grievous  pecuniary  burden  to  the  country, 
Anil,  at  an  early  period  of  next  session,  institute  an  en- 
Cfuiry  by  special  r<  imittee,  or  otherwise,  into  the  matters 
above  stated,  and  ^  ticularly  with  a  view  to  dispensing 
suitable  rewards  to  seamen ;  that  they  will  investigate  the 
stat^  of  the  fund  of  Greenwich  hospital,  and  ascertain 
whether  it  is  necessary  to  apply  the  droits  of  the  admiral- 
ty, and  droits  of  the  crown,  as  the  natural  first  means  of 
compensation  to  those  who  have  acquired  them  by  thdr 
valor  th6ir  privations  and  (heir  sufferings.'* 
' -Sir  Francis  Burdett  seconded  the  resolution. 

Ms.  Croker  said,  he  should  think  himself  wanting  In 
duty  to  the  house,  if  be  did  not  at  once  assure  them,  that 
except  the  very  opening^df  tlie  resolution  which  had  just 
been  read  from  the  chair,  there  wins  not  one  statement 
which  was  not  unfounded  in  fact,  er  exagerated  in  the 
highest  degree.  (Heinr,  hear;) — 'He  had  only  to  lameiit 
that  the  noble  lord  had  not  brought  forward  this  subject 
at  an  earlier  period  of  the  session,  so  that  bis  statements 
might  hftve  been  reifuted  in  a  manner  mere  decided,  al- 
though perhaps  not 'more  satisfactorily  than  they  would 
be  on  the  ptesent  occasion.  He  wa^  aurprised  th«t>^  the 
noble  Ivrd  dhonld  have  venturedtost^bttiitto  the  houses 
resolution  bearing  such  evident  marks  bt  Its  own  Is^ae- 
hood — a  resolution  so  replete  as  it  is  'With  'the  most  'un- 
founded calumny,  and  with  sti«ih  distorfiwi  of  facts — *bo 
btit  the  noble  lord  would  have  ever  dreamed  6f  such  an 
insinuation  ate  that  the  late  victories  grfncdby  the  Amer- 


,  X    "  '   ■ 


<,  Jl 


,  THE  BINEMy.  I5 


171 


ican  navy  over  the  British  flag  had  been  atlributable,  not 
to  the  inequality  of  force,  but  to  the  misconduct  and  pu- 
sillanimity of  our  sailors.  (Hear,  Hear.)  What !  he 
would  ask,  was  the  crew  of  the  Java  dispirited  wheu 
she  was  taken?  (Hear.)  When  the  Macedonian  v*i  ta- 
ken, washer  crew  sunk  in  apathy  and  broken  hearted  ? 
(Hear,  hear.)  So  fir  from  this  being  the  case,  he  could 
state  from  his  own  knowledge,  that  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  actions  in  which  these  vessels  were  engaged,  and  in 
which  they  fought  with  so  much  honor  to  themselves,  and 
80  much  glory  to  the  British  name,  when  almost  allhope^ 
had  failed,  their  spirit  and  valov  still  remained  unsubdu- 
ed ;  and  instead,  as  the  noble  lord  would  have  the  bouse  to 
believe,  of  sinking  amidst  the  w<:ight  of  their  misfoi-tunes, 
they  cheered  each  other,  with  reiterated  shouts  of  en- 
couragement ;  and  those  cheers  invariably  commenced 
amongst  the  wounded  in  the  cockpit !  Did  this,  he  would 
demand  of  the  noble  lord,  shew  any  thing  like  a  crew 
disheartened  ?  Did  this  shew  a  BritisK  sailor  to  be  «ugh^ 
but  what  he  had  ever  proved  himself  iSo  be  ?  Did  '.this 
tend  to  tarnish  or  to  diminish  the  lustre  which  had  ever 
attended  the  career  of  the  British  navy,  (Hear,  hear.) 
With  thene  facts  before  the  house  and  the  country,  was 
he  not  authorized  to  call  upon  the  noble  lord  to  state,  how 
he  could  presume  to  ask  the  house  to  vole  for  his  resolu^ 
tion  ?  Another  fact  he  could  state,  which  he  supposed  the 
noble  lord  would  construe  into  a  new  proof  or  the  apa- 
thetical  and  disheartened  state  of  our  sailors.  Tiiat  to 
which  he  alluded,  was  the  conduct  of  John  Humble,  the 
boatswain  of  the  Java,  who  it  would  be  seen  on  his  ex- 
amination before  a  court  martial,  amongst  other  facts, 
stated,  that  having  had  his  arm  carried  a^vay,  be  went 
below  to  the  surgeon,  and,  having  had  the  stump  "put  to 
rights,"  as  he  termed  it,  by  baving  the  tourniquet  applied 
to  it,  returned  to  the  deck  and  cheered  the  boarders  with 
his  pipe. — (Hear,  hear.)  Was  this  a  proof  of  any  dimi» 
nutioR  of  British  valor,  or  of  a  falling  ofT  in  the  character 
and  spirit  of  those  brave  men,  who,  until  libelled  and 
blown  upon  by  the  noble  lord,  bad  stood  above  the  most 
distant  imputation  of  misconduct  ?  In  the  same  degree  as 
|l)iis  part  of  the  resolution  of  the  noble  lord  was  incorrect. 


■7 


(.,"■' 


'  ,x-- 


...  J.  ,.--jfr. 


■■jV-'-' rFK''"'^.'-  ■"'      "'*■-■ 


w  •» 


M" 


172 


BARBARITIES  OF 


(.'..■■''''•., 

1 


-    (■ 


h 


BO  was  all  the  rest.  With  rcspeet  to  the  fact  stated,  of 
80/.  being  demanded  for  the  discharge  of  every  seaman 
from  the  navy,  nothing  could  be  more  unfounded.  The 
truth  was,  that  80  pounds  certainly  was  demanded  for 
the  ifi&charge  of  an  able  seaman  ;  but  in  proportion 
as  the  ability  and  usefulness  of  the  man  diminished, 
80  did  the  sum  required  for  his  discharge.  For  in- 
Htance,  an  ordinary  seamen  pai<l  but  60/.  and  a  land 
man  but  40/. ;  and  if  these  men  became  invalided,  and 
were  only  employed  in  harbor  duty,  this  demand  wds  di- 
minished one  half.  And  again,  where  they  were  unfit 
for  service,  they  were  not  alone  discharged  without  fee, 
but  received  a  pension  for  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
(Hear!)  If  the  sailors  in  his  majesty  *s  service  were  not 
heart-broken  before,  the  base  libel  which  the  noble  lord  had 
that  day  attempted  to  throw  on  their  character  and  honor, 
was  sufficient  to  eflfect  that  object,  had  the  noble  lord 
maintained  so  much  authority  over  them  as  he  did  in  ful*- 
mer  limes — a  circumstance  which,  happily,  there  was 
much  reason  to  doubt.  The  noble  lord  had  talked  also 
of  corruption,  and  had  said  that  promotions  could  only  be 
obtained  }fy  means  of  corruption  and  parliamentary  in- 
fluence. He  would  ask  the  noble  lord,  if  his  promotion 
was  the  effect  of  corruption  ? — (Hear,  hear,  hear !)  Was 
the  red  ribbon  which  was  given  to  him,  for  the  first  time 
to  a  man  of  his  rank,  the  effect  of  parliamentary  influ- 
ence ? — (Hear,  liear !)  And  was  the  promotion  of  many 
other  men  whom  he  could  name,  if  it  would  not  be  in 
some  d^ree  invidious,  to  be  attributed  to  such  an  unwor- 
thy cause  ?  It  was  easy,  however,  for  the  noble  lord  to 
talk  io  generals,  but  let  him  name  who  had  received  the 
wages  of  corruption,  or  who  had  given  them. — (Hear, 
hear !)  The  right  honorable  gentleman  having  made  some 
further  reprobatory  comments  upon  the  resolution  of  the. 
noble  lord,  concluded  by  expressing  a  hope  that  if  the  no- 
ble lord  dared  to  press  it  to  a  division,  that  the  house 
would  leave  him  in  such  a  minority  as  would  prove  the 
indignation  with  which  it  was  regarded  by  the  house. 
**  Mr.  Lockhart  entreated  the  noble  lord  to  withdraw  a 
resolution  inconsistent  with  the  character  which  his  lord- 
ship bad  always  borne,  and  so  hostile  to  every  feeling 


;\>'.- 


V.-i    ■'  i^.r.  ^'    .'•.^'   •*.' 


■i     '■  ■-■:?:■■ 


^   ^ 


, 


■::■ ,  *■ 


■■  ,.'.;/: 


1^  ,   f  ?>j>-v.r.. 


THE  ENEMY. 


ira 


which  the  house  had  ever  CDtertained  towards  the  Brit* 
ishnavy.   . 

Sir  F.  Burdett  thought  there  vfM  BuiTicieDt  reason  -t 
stated  by  the  noble  lord  for  an  enquiry,  and  the  very  f 
doiibts  which  were  urged  by  the  right  honorable  gentle- 
man (Mr.  Croker)  proved  to  him  most  strongly  theneces-  i^ 
sky  of  that  enquiry.     Ue  would  a^^ree  that  the  period  of  C  _ 
the  session  at  which  the  matter  had  been  brought  forward  l^ 
was  too  advanced,  yet  if  the  resolution  was  rejected  now, 
lie  hoped  the  noble  lord  would  renew  the  si^ect  at  an 
early  part  of  the  ensuing  session.    He  would  not,  huw> 
ever,  advise  tlie  noble  lord  to  witliiiraw  his  resolution  af- 
ter the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  stigmati;^d  by  the  .' 
right  honorable  gentleman  (Mr.  Croker). 

Mr.  Rose  in  the  fullest  manner  denied  all  that  had  been 
advanced  by  the  noble  lord,  with  respect  either  to  the  dif-    \ 
ilculty  of  sailors  receiving  their  pay  or  the  piize  money.   . 

Mr.  Calcrafl,  in  terms  of  great  animations  compliment- 
ed Mr.  Croker  ou  the  speech  which  he  had  made,   and 
observed,  that  the  resolution  of  the  noble  lord  was  calcu- 
lated to  do  more  mischief  in  the  British  oavy,  than  any 
other  plan  which  could  be  devised.    The  honorable  gen- 
tleman then  defended  the  character  of  the  British  saUors  | 
with  becoming  acal  and  energy,  and  included  by  ex-  if, 
pressing  a  liop^,  'l.hat  the  resolution  would  meet  in  that  ^ 
house  the  fate  it  so  eminently  deserved.  '  't<^ 

Mr.  Wrotlesley  bore  testimony  to  the  facility  in  the  ni*   ^v 
val  public  oflicerfi.  :^ 

Mr.  St^^farth  opposed  the  resolution.  *  f 

Locd  Cochrane  replied.     He  said  he  was  not  dit'pleas-    ,; 
ed  at  thd  wacnith  with  which  his.  proptMMltton  had  been   r' 
met.     It  certainly  wiould  be  iojuriourto  nO  one,  except  | 
to  tiie  fieeling  of .  certain  members  of  that  hoii^e.     Tbe^ 
right  lionorad^le  secretary  had  met  his  statements  with  in- 
dividual inptaoces  of  gallantry.     The  existence  of  these 
he  cMd  not  deuy ;  hut  he  asaierted,  that  tfie  physical  pow^  |. 
era  of  our  seamen  were  decreasing,  partly  from  Uie  sys-   v 
tern  of  harbor  duty  esvabliehed  in  1S03.    H^;  hadi  hieard: 
that  the  system  was  about  to  he  changed ;  tfba  he  should 
be  happy  to  liear  from  the  right  honorable  secretary  that    : 
sudr  was  the  fact    The  right  honorable  secretary  had 


■■'-n. 


f"*,  .4, 


;4-- 


,    ■■»'"'  .*■ 


i 


•ri 


■■''i^f>£f,  >'.i>\'.'r  ji  ;.-. r...   A'- 


iU 


t^'  I     I 

1  ? 


t : ' 


;i  i 


/ 


.•1.1 


BARBARITIES  OF 


■V'^'?. '  'iVs;: 


**'!*ii. 


challeoged  Ima  to  show  an  instance  of  an  officer  having 
purchc jed  his  discharge  from  such  service.  He  would 
name  a  Mr.  Ford,  who  had  served  with  him  in  the  Im- 
perieuse,  who  had  done  so ;  and  Nelson,  his  cockswain 
of  that  vessel,  had  been  placed  in  harbor  service, 
and  had    returned   to   him  ;    and    another   person   of 

-tike  name  of  Farley  of  the  Leda,  had  three  times  left 
that  degrading  service,  and  had  each  time  returned  to 
lijm,  and  died  with  him,  completely  worn  out  in  the  ser- 
vice.    Tliese  were  facts  ^vliich  he  was  prepared  to  prove 
at  the  bar,  as  he  was  all  those  which  had  been  denied 
with  so  much  warmth  by  the  right  honorable  secretary. 
To  show  further  that  the  crews  of  British  ships  of  war 
were  unequal  to  themselves  heretofore,  he  would  relate 
what  was  the  opinion  of  a  person  not  at  all  Hkelv  to  be 
disaffected  to  tne  order  of  things— lie  was  then  son  of  a 
bifchop ;  be  had  taken  ao  American  privateer,  the  crew 
of  which  consisted  of  only  130  men,  and  he  had  declared, 
that  he  would  rather  have  them  than  his  own  crew,  con- 
sisting of  240.    If  the  right  honorable  secretary  doubted 
fills  feet,  he  might  enquire,  and  he  would  easily  verify  it. 
The  noble  lord  had  heard  that  the  sailors  taken  prison- 
ers by  the  Americans,  had  been  found  running  away  in  the 
back  settlements ;  that  forty  of  them  had  been  brought 
back  by  force,  and  that  from  the  manifestation  of  this  pro- 
pensity, the  exchange  of  prisoners  had  been  broicen  off. 
The  lateness  of  the  period  at  which  he  had  brought  for- 
ward his  resolution  had  bec^i  complained  of.     He  did  in- 
tend to  bring  in  a  bill  to  limit  the  term  of  service,  but  cir- 
cumstances had  prevented  him;  but  he  would  carry  his 
intention  into  eflfeet  in  the  next  session.     With  respect  to 
parliamentary  influence,  the  right  honorable  secretary 
liad  asked,  whether  he  bad  found  H  of  service  to  himself 
in  Ms  profession  ?  He  certainly  had  not,  because  be  had 
never  prostituted  his  vote  for  that  purpose — but  he  had 

,.  no  doubt  others  had  found  that  influenee  of  great  avail. 

/  ■  When  he  again  brought  fcicward  the  subject,  he  should 
ove  all  the  facts  he  had  adduced,  and  he  hoped  so  much 
ncrance  of  the  subject  would  not  then  be  fcund  to  pre- 


:^*^aiL 


Mr.  Crofcer  replied  to  the  qtiestions  put  by  lord  Cocb- 


■  w*. 


,  "•  '  •!,.  -   "      ,, 


^V 


$k.J'fi.:r..'t^'. 


il'^HE  ENEMY. 


175 


laae,  that  the  government  had  at  all  times  been  verjr? 
watchful  over  the  harlipr  duty,  but  that  it  had  Dot  takeii$ 
any  new  steps  since  the  suggestions  of  the  noble-lord. — ■: 
He  had  never  heard  that  the  sailors  taken  prisoners 
^j  the  Americans,   had  been  found  running  away  to 
the  back  settlements ;  nor  of  the  forty  men  being  brought 
Jibac'k  by  force.     The  exchange  of  prisoners  was  brokei» 
off,  in  consequence  of  some  wrong  done  to  the  British 
seamen,  and  not  in  Coi-^ftquence  of  any  fault  of  theirs. 
The  resolution  was  Ujud  negatived  Tj^ithout  a  division 


\^M ^^ v^'"1s'  1^^.,  -  * > 


■'«'■  i-f 


CONCLUSION, 


f'^'i 


^■'^^ 


,      THE  MICHtGANIANS.  ' 

The  following  protest  olthe  inhabi*ints  of 
the  Michigan  Territory ,,was  rect  ived  in  the 
National  Intelligemer  of  the  lOth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1813,  at  which  monr^ent  the  editor  was 
about  closing  this  volume.  Its  connection, 
w^ith  the  foi*egoing  documents,  entitles  it  to  a 
place  in  the  same  volume  with  them.  The 
editors  of  the  Intellbj;encer,  introduce  it  inta 
their  paper  by  the  following  remarks :; — 
*'  Tlie  day  may  not  h^ve,  arrived,  but  it  must, 
ere  long,  come,  when  the  American  p,epub- 
lic  will  be  under  a  necessity  of  demanding ; 
and,  by  proper  perseverance,  of  obtaining,  re- 
dress for  every  injury  done  to  her  citizens, 
whether  in  relation  to  their  persms,  or  their 
cowMwema/ or  o^Aer  property;  and  in  whatev- 
er quarter  or  region  of  the  world  committed. 
At  the  present  moment  the  violation  of  the 
capitulation  ofDetroit  will  claim  the  first  at- 


^A 


/,  - 


.  i^»>..ii..'.k  ■,-,,. 


'^L    X- 


,}} 


4 


! 


,  r-^/r.:r,.  \  ■ 

-1            V  ",-    * 

-:    if   ', 

« 

;'  .'-.:  i.'*^, .:;:,.:. -..X,  J  I-  I'.Lr:--,  t. 

.    ■■^. 

A  ■'*'■/'; 


17« 


BARBARITIES  01    /    .,/    ^. 


tention.    Ample  indemnity  ouglit  to  be  ex-^ 
tended  to  the  sufferers  ;  and  if  OTir  nation 
cannot,  by  arms,  obtain  counter-indemnifica-, 
tion,  jperhapsit  ought  magnanimously  to  sus-^ 
tain  the  loss.    The  fidelity  of  our  citizens  is^ 
not  of  a  nature  to  be  tampered  with ;  and, 
where  they  are  true  to  us,  we  must  be  true 
TQ  THEM.    We  lay  this  day  before  our  rea- 
ders the  protest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Terri- 
tory ofMichigan,  in- relation  to  the  violation 
of  the /Aire?  article  of  llie  Capitulation  which 
ignobly  subjected  the«i  to  British  domina- 
tion." 

PROTEST. 
Whereas  it  has  been  signified  to  us,  the 
undersigned  citizens  of  tlie  United  States, 
resident  at  Detroit  in  the  Territory  of  Michi- 
gan, by  col.  Henry  Proctorj  the  British  com- 
manding officer,  that  it  is  his  will  and  pleas- 
ure we  should  depart  from  and  leave  the  said 
territory,  and  he  so  orders,  and  directs  it ; 
leaving  behind  at  the  same  thne  as  we  ns^ee)«* 
sarily  nuist  do,  our  deaiest  relatives  exposed 
to  all  the  casualties  and  evik  incidefit  to  a 
slate  of  war,  and  our  property  at  the^  mercy 
of  the  marauding  savage  :  -^ 

t  Resolved  therefore,  that  we  consider  the- 
said  order  of  the  said  col.  Henry  Proctor,  a«! 
a  flagrant  and  gross  violation  ot  the  third  ar- 
ticle of  the  capitulation,  made  and  concluded 
at  Detroit,  on  the  sixteenth  of  Aiiguist  last, 
and  by  reason  whereof  this  place  was  surren^ 
delved  to  tlie  British  flag. 


f£f>.JUiJ;v«iSr 


)'(. 


i.-\,  i.^\  ,.^./^.iK.;rf.. 


I 


■■;.  4- 


li 


"f 


THE  ENEMY. 


in 


'  Resolved  2fidly,  That  it  is  a  duty  we  owe 
to.  ourselves  and  to  our  county,  to  resist  man^ 
fully  and  spiritedly,  by  all  the  powers  of 
reason  and  argument,  every  unwarrantable 
-attempt  upon  our  personal  rights,  that  is  not 
strictly  compatible  with  the  articles  of  capit- 
ulation. 

■^''  And  whereas  we  entertain  a  very  sensible 
and  thorough  conviction  that  a  military  offi- 
cer, by  an  unjustifiable  and  wanton  invasion 
of  the  private  rights  of  an  individual,  may 
not  only  incur  the  displeasure  of  his  own  gov- 
ernment but  will  lay  himself  personally  re- 
sponsible to  the  individual  injured ; 

Resolved  therefore  3dly,  That  for  every 
violation  of  our  rights  and  privileges,  attend- 
ed with  an  injury  to  our  person  or  property, 
we  will  make  a  solemn  appeal  to  the  dernier 
resort,  to  the  umpire  of  the  law. 

Resolved  4thly,  That  we  entertain  a  high 
sense  of  the  honor  of  a  military  parole,  and 
the  virtuous  and  delicate  use  that  ought  to 
be  made  of  it ;  as  likewise  of  the  necessity 
and  the  propriety  of  a  strict  and  exemplary 
neutrality  so  long  as  we  remain  under  the 
British  flag,  and  are  protected  in  our  persons 
and  property  agreeably  to  the  true  spirit  and 
letter  ol  the  articles  of  the  capitulation. 

Resolved  5thly,  That  if  there  are  any 
amongst  us  whose  conduct  and  behavior  does 
not  strictly  comport  with  the  spirit  and  mean- 
ing of  the  preceding  resolution,  they  ought 
not  to  be  screened  from  punishment,  but,  that 
it  is  our  duty  to  assist  in  exposing  them  to  tlie 


'%    ' 


■■H^HP^I^^I^WI^ 


119 


BARBARITIES  QF 


(V 


'.1. 


r 


V 

■t 


R^ 


i 


just  aiiimadversion  and  censure  of  their  awn 
improper  conduct* 

And  whereafi  we  entertain  a  high  sense  of 
the  manlyj  dignified^  and  spirited  conduct  of 
Augustus  R  Woodward,  esq.  wliose  services 
have  heretofore  been  so  pre-eminently  useful 
to  the  inhabitants : 

Resolved,,  therefore,  6thly,  That  he  be  pre- 
sented with  these  resolutions  with  a  request 
to  lay  them  before  the  said  Col.  Henry  Procr 
tor,  andtt>Tjse  al  kiwful  amd  hoaoi'able  inti!eaT  ] 
ty  with  \mm  to  obtain  a  revocation   of  his ' 
aforesaid  ojh^,  so  diametrically  opposite  ta 
the  aforesaid  3d  article  erf  the  capitulation^ 
ar'/id  so  manifestly  injurious  at  tlii&  particular,, 
season  of  the  year  to  ojur  persons  a©^  propr 
erty.'  --... 

8IGNEBRY 


Lewis  Bond, 
William  Wilson, 
Arch.  Lyon, 
Anderson  Martin, 
}3avid  Ilonderson, 
Joseph  Spencer, 


David  MXle^,  ^  : 
John  T^kk«,  ~ 

Israel  Taylor,      *t 
WiU^iam  W.  Scotts 
William  Russeli, 
Jame^  Patterson* 


George  R.  Chittenden,   W.  Robertson, 


John  V\^^llier> 
E.  Brush, 
Peter  Desnoyeres, 
James  Burnett, 
William  Brown, 
John  Consett, 
A.  Langan, 
James  (^iltenden. 

DHroit,  \st  Ffhnmr}fy  181.^, 


Comnd  Leefc, 
Conrad  Ten  Eyck, 
Robert  8mart, 
Richard  H,  .loiws, 
J.  M'Doniuill, 
Duncan  Ho  id, 
Georgt*  Bafizes, 


'       ■'-'-v% 


-j^vr 


■t 


^-^'  -  "'■'.  ,■  ■■*' 


■:,  i-:J 


l#f 


The  reader's  indulgence  is  solicited  for  the  fern  typo- 
graphical err  or  St  which  may  be  found  in  the  preceding  pa- 
geSy  as  th^  occurred  in  consequence  of  the  unavoidable 
absence  ojthe  publisher  during  apart  of  the  time  the 
nxn-k  mas  going  on,  and  could  not  be  remedied  after  his  re- 
tumiWithout  occasioning  a  dela J  in  the  publication  inconi- 
pat^le  with  the  public  solicitude  to  see  the  book.  The 
most  material  error  will  be  found  in  the  \QQth  page,  7  th 
line  from  the  top,  where  reaa  disposed  instead  (f  dhphyed. 


■■■uM 


!>.      I        ^}v:i-  ' 


1         r 


,  / 


•   i     '. 


J4 


.    "  ,^^-_       ■ 


r    . 


.:-:•:■•  -^ 


